Challenging start for new Catholic school board director
Cipriano will be getting a helping hand from the outgoing director
While taking over leadership of Niagara Catholic District School Board in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic will be difficult, board chair Frank Fera is confident newly hired education director Camillo Cipriano will be more than up to the challenge.
Cipriano takes over the school board’s top job Sept. 1, replacing John Crocco who will retires a day earlier after more than a dozen years at the helm.
In a media release, Cipriano called his new job an honour, and said he’s “humbled by the opportunity to serve the students, parents, staff and our parish partners in the entire Niagara region.”
“I am excited at the opportunity to work with our strong senior team and dedicated board of trustees, in continuing to support the students of Niagara Catholic in their academic success, faith formation and mental health. I have been working closely with director
Crocco in the transition of leadership, and am committed to building up- on the many successes under his leadership.
“I am also looking forward to getting to know the principals, teachers and support staff across Niagara Catholic, in whatever way that may be in September.”
School boards across the province have been required to develop plans for the coming school year, but Fera said those plans can change at any time depending on the status of the coronavirus.
That uncertainty Cipriano will have to manage when he starts his new job.
“I think he’s up to the challenge. He seems to be not only a man of integrity and experience, but he appears to be someone who will look at a challenge and face it dead on,” Fera said.
“He seems to be a go-getter.”
Cipriano, who has 23 years of leadership experience as a teacher and administrator in Catholic education, including recently working as superintendent of education with Halton Catholic District School Board.
Cipriano was recruited after a search that attracted strong candidates from across Ontario. His appointment was endorsed by trustees on June 26, and by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday.
While dealing with uncertainty regarding the COVID-19, Fera said, Cipiriano will have to contend with the retirement of a few board superintendents.
Crocco will remain available to assist Cipiriano as he takes on the new job.
“It’ll make it a little easier for him because he’ll have a couple of months for the transition, but it will be difficult,” Fera said recently.
“There’s no question about it. These are unprecedented circumstances.”