Putorti tabbed to lead school board

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Jeremy Putorti
Jeremy Putorti

By Dan King

Whitehall’s Board of Education has a new president and he says he has a new vision.

Nominated by board member James Brooks, Jeremy Putorti was elected president by an 8-0 vote. Board member Frank Barber was absent.

Putorti then nominated Brooks to be vice president, and he too won an 8-0 vote.

Putorti made his intentions clear immediately, laying out a new plan for the school district.

“The past year has been a very controversial and tumultuous one,” Putorti said in a prepared speech. “Today we would like to set a more positive tone for the upcoming school year. We are extremely fortunate to have experienced administrators with us to guide our school district.”

Putorti added that his goal was to make the board “as transparent as we legally can be” and to generally change the image.

One way Putorti said the district will aim to do that is by posting the board agenda topics on the website the Friday prior to Monday meetings. He also has changed the format of the meetings a bit, allowing a public comment period toward the end of the meeting instead of the beginning, and requiring it to be focused on the agenda topics.

“We want to ensure that everyone is following the process, whether that’s going to the administration or writing a letter to the board,” Putorti said. “We’re having (public comment) toward the end so you can hear everything that’s being discussed before you weigh in. I don’t want to be rude, but if people start to get off topic I will say ‘please stop,’ because we really want to keep this on topic.”

Additionally, Putorti and interim superintendent Bill Scott have rearranged the desks for the meetings, saying that the new format allows the board to better communicate with one another.

Putorti succeeds Virginia Rivette, who did not seek reappointed. Brooks takes a vacant vice president seat, which was previously occupied by Jim Huntington before he resigned.

Interim principal

Of those experienced administrators Putorti mentioned, all three are interims in their respective roles: Superintendent Bill Scott, elementary principal Jane O’Shea and the newly hired high school principal Mark Doody, formerly superintendent in Hudson Falls.

Board member Tony Scrimo, a former teacher in Hudson Falls, worked with Doody and had glowing reviews.

“I worked with him for 40 years,” Scrimo said. “When we have Mr. Scott, Mr. Doody and Mrs. O’Shea working together, this district is in good shape. He works very well with faculty, students and curriculum.”

Fall coaches

The board appointed more fall coaches, leaving only one vacancy.

Bob Diekel was named an assistant varsity football coach, replacing former defensive coordinator Neil Hughes, who resigned to take a position in Fair Haven, Vt. Josh Hoagland was appointed a modified coach, contingent upon his completion of the necessary classes. Diekel and Hoagland join a coaching staff that consists of Dick Gould, Jason Hoagland and Justin Millett.

Keith Redmond will continue as varsity golf coach and Chris Fowler will be the modified coach.

Amanda Mazza will be retained as the varsity cross country coach and Jenna Sanders will lead the modified squad.

Megan Badger was appointed the JV girls’ soccer coach, Christine Hoagland will be the modified coach and the varsity position is still “pending.”

Lastly, Kim Daniels will be kept on as the varsity cheerleading coach.