Schools chief under fire over budget mess

ANSONIA — Nearly 150 parents are calling for a vote of “no confidence” in Superintendent of Schools Carol Merlone for her recent handling of the budget debacle that put the Board of Education and the city at odds.

Parent Jeremy Musnicki submitted the petition to the Board of Aldermen during its meeting Tuesday night at City Hall, and made an impassioned plea to aldermen to support him for the sake of Ansonia’s children.

“We ask the Board of Aldermen to invoke a vote of no confidence against Dr. Carol Merlone,” Musnicki said.

The aldermen cannot take such an action, only the school board can do that, but Musnicki said he was looking for the aldermen’s backing, saying Merlone’s recent appearances on the news and comments in local media, threatening to close city schools early, was not right.

The school board launched a lawsuit against the city over $600,000 it said it was owed. Without that money, schools officials said they would not make payroll and indicated schools might have to be close for the summer early.

An agreement was reached this week between the board and the city, however, and schools will remain open and students will graduate on time.

“The pain, stress, confusion and uncertainty that our top educator caused cannot be given back to our students, parents, teachers and taxpayers,” Musnicki said. “I cannot as a parent allow a person that has control over my children’s education and that makes these poorly thought-out actions stay in control any longer. We need a change and a fresh outlook for our children.”

Aldermanic President Lorie Vaccaro accepted the petition, and following the meeting said that while aldermen cannot take action to invoke a vote of no confidence against Merlone, the board will “refer the matter and the petition to the

Board of Education.”

Board of Education President Bill Nimons, reached for comment after the meeting, said of Musnicki’s request that “everyone is entitled to their opinion.”

Musnicki has three children in the Ansonia schools, and said since he’s been a resident here for the past 13 years, Merlone has been in charge, and “it’s time for a new face with a new perspective.”

While Merlone was not available for comment late Tuesday regarding the petition, she did issue a statement earlier in the day about the contentious budget battle that has come to an end.

“Today is a great day for Ansonia students and the district,” she said. “Their parents will all be able to see their children graduate during commencement exercises on June 18; our teachers and support staff will get paid; and we will be able to cover our necessary bills.”

Merlone noted that the battle could’ve been avoided had the city accepted a request but rejected an offer she made in April for $500,000 to cover costs.