The Niagara Falls City School District Board of Education has made its choice for a new superintendent of schools.
But a complaint challenging the process involved in the selection of Stanley Wojtan remains on appeal to the New York State Department of Education.
On Friday, the Niagara Falls Branch of the NAACP issued a scathing statement criticizing the school board’s actions.
“The NAACP Niagara Falls Branch condemns the appointment of Stan Wojton as Superintendent of Schools for the Niagara Falls City School District,” branch President Renae Kimble said. “Despite a formal petition filed by this branch challenging the legality of an unnecessarily narrow and exclusionary search process, the search has concluded, and an internal candidate has been appointed by the board.”
Kimble said school board members turned their backs on the community with their action.
“The Board has dismissed and disregarded community requests for an expansive search to identify the best-possible leader for the students who attend Niagara Falls City Schools,” Kimble said. “We will continue to advance our petition and demand the board commit itself to a process that is inclusive and responsive to community calls for transparency.”
The school district has filed an answer to the NAACP complaint and asked the Education Department to dismiss it. However, the matter remains active and pending.
There has been no indication from the Education Department on when it may rule on the complaint.
In its complaint, the civil rights organization accused school board members of engaging in a “rushed process” to replace retiring schools superintendent Mark Laurrie.
Laurrie, who has been the district superintendent since 2016, announced his intention to step down from his post in early October. The school board then advertised the superintendent opening in an internal-only job posting that required candidates to apply between Sept. 29 and Oct. 20.
“A three-week period is a rushed process that severely limits the candidate pool and prevents the board from adequately considering all options,” Kimble said.
School Board President Anthony Paretto has repeatedly said there was no need for the board to look at outside candidates.
“We had excellent candidates apply for this position,” Paretto said at the Thursday night school board meeting where Wojton was selected to replace Laurrie. “
The board reportedly considered three other candidates, all current employees of the school district, besides Wojton.
Wojton is a 20-year employee of the Falls schools. According to a background memo, prepared in connection with the drafting of Wojton’s new contract with the school district, he has been a physical education teacher, a teacher on special assignment, the assistant principal at Gaskill Preparatory School, principal at Cataract Elementary School and for the last 3 1/2 years, he has been designated as a Principal on Special Assignment, working closely with Laurrie.
A Gazette request for a copy of Wojton’s resume has not yet been fulfilled.
Laurrie called Wojton “competent and collaborative.” “I believe the board made an outstanding choice,” Laurrie said.
A life-long resident of the Falls and father of three, Wojton received a three-year contract from the school board, beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30, 2029.
The deal provides a more than $20,000 pay raise over Laurrie’s contract in Wojton’s first year on the job. Laurrie’s expiring contract pays him $194,844 while Wojton’s pact pays him $215,000 in the first year, $223,600 in the second year and $232,544 in the final year.
Wojton is paid $148,620 in his current position as a principal on special assignment.
The contract contains extensive perks, including a vehicle for both business and personal use. It also calls for the school district to pay Wojton’s medical insurance from the time he retires until he qualifies for Medicare.
In remarks after his selection, Wojton thanked the school board for “its trust” and promised a commitment to “our students, families, staff and community.” He also promised “integrity and transparency.”
“Our district’s strength lies in its people,” Wojton said. “I am truly humbled and honored to be standing in front of you. There are only great things to come.”