Naugatuck School Chief Gets Another Year

Superintendent John Tindall-Gibson will continue to lead the Naugatuck school district through the end of June 2014.

The Board of Education voted 6-3 Thursday to extend the school chief’s pact for another year. That vote came after the board announced Assistant Superintendent Brigitte Crispino will retire at the end of this school year.

“The thought is that it was improper to have both the superintendent and assistant superintendent positions vacant,” said board member Jim Jordan, who voted for the extension. “Bringing in people in a vacuum is not something we want to do. It’s not appropriate in the private sector, and it’s certainly not appropriate in the school district.”

The board will conduct a search for a replacement for Crispino, who has worked in the district for more than 30 years. The hope is that Crispino’s replacement will eventually move into the superintendent’s role for the start of the 2014-15 school year, Chairman Dave Heller said.

Not all board members thought the decision was wise.

Vice Chairwoman Dorothy Neth-Kunin, Secretary Glenn Connan and board member Diana Malone voted against the measure. Connan said he wanted the school system to “go in a different direction.”

“One reason was because of academic standards,” he said. “We’re an alliance school district; we’re failing our kids, and we’ve got to do better.”

The 65-year-old Tindall-Gibson, who makes roughly $165,000 a year between salary and an annuity, has been head of the district since the fall of 2006. His tenure in Naugatuck, the third district in which he’s been a superintendent, has been akin to a roller coaster ride.

During the 2009-10 school year, the district ran into financial problems for which Tindall-Gibson was ultimately blamed.

Naugatuck teachers, many of whom were threatened with layoffs, overwhelmingly voted no confidence in him. And several people, including then-first-term Mayor Bob Mezzo, asked for the school chief’s resignation.

But in the past two years, a majority of board members have been satisfied with Tindall-Gibson’s leadership.

Tindall-Gibson, who is president of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, was eligible to retire in February. But he says he appreciates the opportunity to serve another year. 

“This is an exciting time to be in education,” he said. “There are some great things going on within the district and it’s tough to leave.”

How They Voted

Yes: For the extension

• Jim Jordan (D)
• Scott Slauson (R)
• Dave Heller (R)
• Mayor Bob Mezzo (D)
• Rocky Vitale (D)
• Jim Scully (D)

No: Against the extension

• Dorothy Neth-Kunin (R)
• Diane Malone (R)
• Glenn Connan (R)