Reprint of Today's Community News Article by Antonio Prado About Last Night's CSW Board Meeting

Students, parents demand Russo remain at Charter's helm

By Antonio Prado
Community News
Posted Jul 23, 2008 @ 10:56 AM
Last update Jul 23, 2008 @ 02:55 PM
Wilmington, Del. —
Students and parents are demanding that Ronald Russo remain president of the highly successful Charter School of Wilmington.
Many of the more than 300 that attended the July 22 Charter School Board of Directors meeting credited Russo – at the helm since the school’s inception 13 years ago – with creating an oasis for learning and excellence, free from disciplinary distractions and the mediocrity plaguing traditional public schools today.
They demanded answers from the Board of Directors, and getting none, expressed disappointment for being kept in the dark regarding rumors of a pending decision to reassign Russo to another position.
Throughout the meetings, which included two extensions of a 45-minute public comment period, Board Chairman Raymond Seigfried repeatedly said that the Board would not comment on personnel issues, which are reserved for closed door, executive sessions.
“We have not made any decisions,” Seigfried said. “I ask all of you to keep an open mind. Don’t rush to judgment. This will not be a two-way communication, but we want to hear what you have to say.”
Recent graduate Ben Wallace of Hockessin said the controversy endangers Charter’s success.“If you get rid of this man, you’re getting rid of a leader who made this school what it is,” said Wallace, who will attend the University of Virginia. Newark resident Chris Moore, a 2006 graduate, agreed, saying the rumors and innuendo caused by the Board’s pending decision had hurt his alma mater. “Just like a rumor crashed Bear Stearns, imagine what a rumor could do to a tiny organization like this,” said Moore, a finance major at the University of Delaware, referring to the recent failure of a prominent financial firm.
Russo said little at the meeting. He described himself as an educator with 41 years experience, including 13 at Charter. “I am proud to say I am the very first employee hired at Charter,” he said, drawing a thunderous ovation.
Parent Rick Walsh credited Charter’s academic success to Russo. “It’s unconventional and we have an unconventional leader,” said Walsh, of Brandywine Hundred. “But don’t mess with success. The establishment wants to protect the failing status quo. I live in the Brandywine School District where they regularly ask for higher taxes but its enrollment is declining because they don’t want to challenge the status quo.”Pike Creek resident David Giattino, a 2004 graduate, said it appears the Board has forgotten who its shareholders are.“The students are the real stakeholders. And parents and guardians represent those shareholders,” said Giattino, a University of Delaware graduate. “If you remove Mr. Russo, there will be repercussions and there will a movement to reorganize this Board. I don’t want to see my diploma devalued by this Board.” Greater than 95 percent of Charter students perennially meet or exceed English and mathematics standards as measured by the Delaware Student Testing Program each year. PTA President Teri Tabah, who’s had three children graduate from Charter, said Russo was the man who had the foresight to create this school, where “every child is entitled to a free and appropriate education.” “The Board needs to be reminded of that,” she said. “I cannot say that the Board has acted improperly but there is an appearance of impropriety.” Russo said the public comment showed that people seem to be satisfied with his performance.
"It seems as though they [parents and students at the meeting] are looking for stability. If changes are needed, we need time to look at it."