Laurel Highlands board critical of superintendent in latest evaluation
RTK request also reveals name of fired teacher
Laurel Highlands School District Superintendent Jesse Wallace received mostly negative marks in his most recent employment evaluation, which the Herald-Standard received late Friday close to a month after submitting a Right-to-Know request for the document.
Wallace has been the subject of considerable public criticism since April, when two high school teachers were accused of sexual misconduct against students. Social studies teacher Martin Gatti was fired by the board, while Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor Daniel Cervone resigned ahead of a vote to terminate him. Both have formal arraignments scheduled for next week.
The board voted 7-2 at its August meeting to approve Wallace’s evaluation, prepared by board President Marcus DiNunno. The newspaper filed a request after the meeting for the document, which was not initially posted online.
In written comments accompanying the evaluation, Wallace said his signature was provided “under protest and disagreement.”
At the same meeting, the board voted 6-3 to rescind a contract extension it had given Wallace two years earlier, bringing his current contract to an end at the end of this school year.
“At present, community trust in district leadership is lower than it should be, and that lack of confidence has also affected the Board of Education,” DiNunno wrote in the evaluation. “Rebuilding that trust will require a shared commitment from both the board and district leadership. Demonstrating humility, acknowledging concerns, accepting responsibility when appropriate, and maintaining open, honest communication will go a long way toward restoring confidence. I believe you have the ability to strengthen your effectiveness as both superintendent and community leader, and I encourage you to make those improvements going forward.”
The assessment noted Wallace’s strengths as delegation of tasks, fiscal responsibility and willingness to put in the time. For areas where he could improve, it suggested community relations, increased accountability for himself and staff, empathy, humility and being more genuine.
Wallace should be able to make the necessary changes, but “it comes down to the willingness and effort to make it happen,” the evaluation said.
The board’s nine members each ranked Wallace’s performance across six areas — student growth and achievement, organizational leadership, district operations and financial management, communication and community relations, human resource management, professionalism — with every category containing several performance indicators.
Ratings in each category indicated the number of board members who described Wallace’s performance to be distinguished, proficient, needs improvement or failing.
Wallace’s lowest marks came in communication and community relations. He was given a “failing” grade in the area, the only one of the six where an overall rating was directly marked. Either four or five board members rated him as failing in every indicator.
The evaluation suggested Wallace increase the district’s transparency, build stronger relationships with staff and the community and display more empathy for community concerns, among other suggestions.
“Everyone and everything can use some improvement,” the evaluation said. “Be more respectful and not so dismissive.”
In the other five categories, and in an assessment of whether Wallace met the district’s annual performance goals, the greatest number of board members opted for “needs improvement.”
Wallace and DiNunno signed the evaluation on Sept. 1.
In written comments included with the evaluation, Wallace acknowledged an Aug. 5 meeting with DiNunno and board Vice President Matt George to review the document before its approval.
Wallace questioned the accuracy and overall rating, and said no consideration was given to points he made challenging items in the evaluation.
“To that end, I will strive to improve in all areas cited,” he said. “Conversely, the overall rating and determination are signed under protest and disagreement.”
Wallace had not responded to multiple requests for comment as of Wednesday.
The newspaper’s Right-to-Know request also sought information regarding a teacher terminated at August’s board meeting who had been identified only as “Employee A.” The district’s response provided late Friday identified him as George Mikolowsky, who had been a high school physics teacher.
No reason was provided for the termination. Mikolowsky was earning $94,901 a year, according to information provided by the district.
He had been with the district since June 2005.