GREAT BEND — The Carthage Central School District Board of Education is expected to accept the resignations of the superintendent and the athletic director at a special meeting Monday night.
Carl H. Militello, who has been superintendent since July 2006, announced Monday that he was leaving to be superintendent of the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District, Sanborn, starting Aug. 1.
Athletic Director Jason Ring has resigned to take a job with the East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District. He will be the new assistant principal at Pine Grove Middle School.
Mr. Militello has battled controversy with local officials and residents about the 2008-09 budget, which was overwhelmingly defeated May 20.
"I talked to Carl when I saw what was going on in the community and heard all the cries for his resignation," board member Leo J. Keenan Jr. said. "We counseled each other. He didn't really tell me that he was leaving, but I told him he should probably start looking at other places. I suspected he had sent some inquiries out. It'd be foolish if he didn't."
Mr. Keenan said he was pleased for Mr. Militello's opportunity but sorry for Carthage's loss of what he considers a great superintendent.
He also said he has not talked to any other board members about what will happen next, but he suspects that with the help of the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services, there will be an interim superintendent and a search for a permanent replacement.
Board member Barbara J. Lofink said she was shocked when she found out Mr. Militello was leaving.
"Under the circumstances, I understand his decision, but I'm very saddened he will be leaving," she said. "I think he's a smart superintendent, and he did a great job and did what the board asked him to do. We'll have to wait for the reorganizational meeting on July 14 to figure out our next step."
Michael P. Chevier, board member-elect, said he had heard rumors Mr. Militello was looking for another job.
"I was happy to see that there was finally a confirmation of all of those rumors," he said. "It was a relief to finally get an answer. This will give the school district an opportunity to heal from the wounds of the budget season. It will be a challenge to find a leader that will bring the school and community together as a cohesive team."
Mr. Chevier said that Mr. Militello had an "authoritarian leadership style" and that he hopes his replacement will be able to communicate better to school and community members.
"You're not going to make a racehorse by beating them," he said. "You have to train them right to be a winner, and that's what this school district needs. His style of leadership was not conducive, in my opinion, to obtaining the goals we want to obtain."
Mr. Ring has been in the Carthage district for 11 years. He started as a student teacher in the high school for one year, was a social studies teacher at the high school for seven years, including two as part-time athletic director, and has been full-time AD for three years.
"My goal has always been to be a building principal," Mr. Ring said. "It's a great opportunity for me to take a step in that direction. Carthage is the only place I've known professionally and it's heart-wrenching to leave. This has been a wonderful place to work, but it's just the right time for me to move on to the next challenge in my career."
The board also is expected to approve the termination of the aide at the teen parenting center at the high school, which the board disbanded at its meeting June 18.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the district offices in Great Bend.
