Pictured right to left: Michelle Vulcano Hall, her father,
School Board Member, Pat Vulcano, and her mother,
City Councilwoman Sandra Vulcano
Posted by: Noël Jones
Periodically throughout the past year, residents have asked me, "what ever happened with Michelle Vulcano's lawsuit against the school district?" The last I heard, she had applied to the PA Dept. of Education for a Right to Sue letter. These letters apparently take up to a year to receive, if the department feels they are warranted. A plaintiff does not have to wait for a Right to Sue letter to move forward with a lawsuit, but has a stronger leg to stand on legally if she has one. Michelle Vulcano was let go in August of 2009. Why? Because she was hired on an emergency certificate, because the Easton Area School District claimed that there were no other qualified teachers that applied in 2008. I was told that there had been 17 applicants. If that is true, it's a little hard to believe that not one was qualified for the job and that an emergency certificate had to be issued for a woman who just happens to be the daughter of both a school board member and a city council member.
The policy of the district at the time of her hire was to issue emergency certificates with the requirement that certification must be completed within one year. Last I heard, she was missing 3 credits. She failed to complete her certification and a year later the school board voted to let her go.
Vulcano threatened to sue the district for discrimination against her for a disability that she
refuses to disclose to the public. So she can apparently sue us, without even telling us why she's suing us. Let me make this clear--Michelle Vulcano Hall is suing YOU AND ME--the Easton property tax payers. The school district has no money of its own--it is funded on local property tax money and state and federal tax money--the district will pay to fight her with our money, and if they lose, they will pay her off with our money.
Not only that, but the timing of all this has basically enabled Michelle Vulcano to sit out the firings of 72 teachers, all the while knowing that she would pop back in when the smoke had cleared, to sue for lost wages and her job back. I wonder how that makes the other new teachers who got fired feel? I would love to hear from some of our current and former teachers on this.
Because so much time had passed since her initial threat to sue, many residents thought she had dropped the case--that her parents--both prominent politicians for years in this town, had had the decency to talk her out of suing the district for taxpayer money in the middle of a budget crisis and an economic recession--that maybe they realized not only how wrong it was, but how bad it would look--how damaging it might be to their own political careers.
No such luck. Time to start sharpening the axe.
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36 comments:
This news certainly can't be a surprise to anyone. In today's world, suing to receive something one does not deserve is common practice. Leeches on society play the odds by suing and then hope for a payout that makes the suit go away.
What makes this situation so disgraceful is that I am sure nepotism outweighed legitimate credentials when the job was awarded. When you add not getting the proper certification in a timely manner, this suit becomes all the more galling.
Is it that her father not longer has the ability to get her job back, the disability she cites in her suit? You have to wonder.
Public service has standards that go above and beyond the legalities of the courtroom and even beyond what the truth may be. Perhaps she has a case. That isn't the point. The point is that her father is a public servant and she is suing for actions that occurred during his tenure as a public servant, for decisions that were made by a body of which he was a member. Now he is in a situation where his family may benefit financially at the public's expense. If this is not a conflict of interest, it is certainly an "appearance" of conflict of interest and in public service best practices determine that "appearance" matters as the public's faith in its public institutions must be protected. The school board, like other public entities, should have guidelines, by laws or policies in place to govern situations like this where public faith is in jeopardy. If such protections of the public interest are in place then the School Board and Pat Vulcano should be coming to the conclusion that he honorably resign. If such protections have not been put in place then we need to ask why not? Why would the school board and its lawyers lay themselves open to the appearance if not the fact of corruption? With public servants such as these one has to ask when will the Easton community get to have its lawsuit?
Well said, both!
Well, in typical Noel Jones fashion she speaks on something she knows very little about, aside from what she deems credible from the express times. Is she a EASD administrator, NO. Is she even involved in any aspect of EASD aside from paying a tax bill like the rest of us,NO. I guess she hasn't really listened to Pat Vulcano before. Do you think anybody takes him seriously? No. Do you think he really has any pull, especially in the school district, No. So Nepotism really doesn't apply here. remember she was evaluated and hired by 3 building principals, the board just approved it and remember nobody on the board is a big fan of Pat. when she was hired,everything was disclosed. Everybody is so quick to point a finger at the individual that was wronged but never, ever realizes that all the suits against the district stem from your administration. they're really the ones to blame but the taxpayes will continue to not only retain them, pay them and defend them of they're wrong doing.
I love U noel.....happy new year....tunsie
Go Easton! are you serious? you really think that her getting an emergency certificate pulled for her over 17 other candidates was not in any way due to the influence of her mother on city council or her father on the school board?
So you suggest that the Express-Times isn't credible and Noel Jones isn't credible, but Michelle Vulcano's story is?
Some interesting powers of assessment there. You must be part of the club.
happy new year, tunsie!
"then the School Board and Pat Vulcano should be coming to the conclusion that he honorably resign."
Pat Vulcano is an elected official and can only be "discharged" in the next election should he run. However, the Board could vote to censor him.
"all the suits against the district stem from your administration. they're really the ones to blame but the taxpayes will continue to not only retain them, pay them and defend them of they're wrong doing." Whose administration are you talking about. it is unclear to me and school board members DO NOT get paid. So you see it is true - you get what you pay for!
"Pat Vulcano is an elected official.."
Richard Nixon was an elected official. Lots of elected officials resign. I am sure others can provide you with more examples of officials who resign. It is not an admission of guilt. In fact it can be an act of courage and honor because sometimes an official is simply under a cloud and later they clear their names. But they know that as long as they are compromised they cannot serve. Whatever you prefer you to call it, Anon 3:39, there are processes in place for "discharging" public officials who, for whatever reasons, are compromised in their ability to carry out public service. The fact that Pat Vulcano remains on the school board and even uses his position to further advocate for his suing daughter is horrendous. This is a breach of public trust and all officials elected and otherwise in Easton should start doing some heaving lifting here and talk to this family.
Go Easton says nobody takes Pat Vulcano seriously. Well you can see that was a mistake. His daughters lawsuit is going to injure alot of innocent elderly people and poor people who never did anything to her. Its going to hurt this town period. I cant hardly believe why anybody could still stand by people who act like this and be friends with them and defend them.
If the school board had to approve of her hiring then they are responsible for that decision. If they didnt approve we wouldnt have this case. If they also had to approve the the policy that resulted in her not being rehired then they are responsible for that. Mr. Vulcano should be defending the decisions of his school board of which he was a member and president against his daughter suit.
How does this right to sue letter process happen does anyone know? It comes from the Pa Dept of Ed...
And wasnt the school district told that they could not keep doing the emergency certifications? Who told them that? Surely the Pa Dept of Ed would be aware of that demand on the school district.
So how do they come to give her a letter?
Who made that call?
Hey Go Easton - I am sorry but you are wrong. I am pretty sure its the School Board that ultimately hires everybody down the line - administrators, superintendents, principals, teachers. Not the tax payers. Taxpayers get to vote for the School Board members only. If the school board and the administration and staff don't work together ultimately it is the school board that should be held to blame as they are the deciders. And yes the tax payers are to blame for they elect to the school board. Thats why I think Noel and others are justified in discussing these issues, even though we may be ignorant of the finer ins and outs. How else will we, the tax payers, learn to make the best choices?
Wow, Noël, you got a great one going here. It seems pretty clear that most folks agree with you.
The facts are:
- She was hired over many others, but maybe she was qualified or had potential.
- She failed to achieve accredidation in the year.
- her contract was not renewed, her potential was not achieved.
- I know a very competent, certified(!) teacher who was laid(layed?) off from EASD, while this was going on.
Opinion:
- Since when does a learning disability mean that an employee gets extra consideration? Either you do can do the job or not. That doesn't fly in the private sector. Students get it, sorry but we need teachers that can perform. Students get extra time for a test, not extra years.
- I've never understood Easton voter's love for the Vulcanos. I've lived here for decades and don't think I've ever been impressed with anything Pat nor Sandy have done.
- Pat's siding with and marching with the union was a ridiculous thing for a sitting board member!
Questions:
- Can we recover legal expenses when the citizens win this silly thing?
- Has Michelle made any progress toward accredidation during this time?
- Does anyone have any idea who can run for school board against the selective bozos we have now?
How about you Tim, darkesthour?
- How can Noël be so right about this and so wrong about boobies?
If they R stupid enough to dis agree with my favoritist,bestest NOEL....I will beat them up...I yuve noel...tusie
ha ha tachitup--that cracked me up. but this:
"Can we recover legal expenses when the citizens win this silly thing?"
is an excellent question--does anybody know?
and i currently know of two people who are stepping up to the plate to run so far, but i will wait to announce them until their candidacy is filed. but there are three positions up for grabs in the palmer area and one on the south side, so we still need at least two more people to run.
any takers?
that's right, anyone who disagrees with me will be hit over the head with some serious jazz by tunsie--watch out. he will DJ you into submission.
Ellen May--thanks for posting. You said:
"If the school board and the administration and staff don't work together ultimately it is the school board that should be held to blame as they are the deciders. And yes the tax payers are to blame for they elect to the school board. Thats why I think Noel and others are justified in discussing these issues, even though we may be ignorant of the finer ins and outs. How else will we, the tax payers, learn to make the best choices?"
That's right on--the point of this blog is discussion and information sharing that hopefully leads to engagement in our local democracy--in other words: ACTION. And the best way to know what actions to take is to learn from each other and share information. You don't have to be a so-called expert to understand what's going on and take action as an engaged citizen.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. " - Edmund Burke
any takers?
That's right, Noël, one of the seats is Forks, parts(not all) of west ward, and college hill, up to martins creek. But we need to find someone to represent us well. Y' know Kerri ain't too bad, can we do better? I don't know, maybe.
This whole MichelleVH thing needs to go away.
Maybe one of the guys you know can.
I yuv noel cos shes the best bestest in the whole widest world.......Tunsie.......and shes a good jazz singer too,,,,,but dont tell anybody.....tunsie
oh, lord.
Not entirely sure, but off the top of my head, I think the Right to Sue letter comes from the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commmittee, a federal agency. Vulcano has filed a civil rights suit in federal court, so needs the right from the EEOC, not the state.
I found this in the state of PA's guide to disability rights law:
"ADA Title I: Employment
Title I requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide qualified individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the full range of employment-related opportunities available to others. For example, it prohibits discrimination in recruitment, hiring, promotions, training, pay, social activities, and other privileges of employment. It restricts questions that can be asked about an applicant's disability before a job offer is made, and it requires that employers make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities, unless it results in undue hardship. Religious entities with 15 or more employees are covered under title I.
Title I complaints must be filed with the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days of the date of discrimination, or 300 days if the charge is filed
with a designated State or local fair employment practice agency. Individuals may file a lawsuit in Federal court only after they receive a "right-to-sue" letter from the EEOC."
and also this from another section:
"Section 504
Section 504 states that "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency or the United States Postal Service.
Each Federal agency has its own set of section 504 regulations that apply to its own programs. Agencies that provide Federal financial assistance also have section 504 regulations covering entities that receive Federal aid. Requirements common to these regulations include reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities; program accessibility; effective communication with people who have hearing or vision disabilities; and accessible new construction and alterations. Each agency is responsible for enforcing its own regulations. Section 504 may also be enforced through private lawsuits. It is not necessary to file a complaint with a Federal agency or to receive a "right-to-sue" letter before going to court."
here is the link to the state guide on disability rights law:
http://www.ada.gov/cguide.htm
I would just like to know what kind of disability she has and did she require special services when she was attending EAHS????
All the article says is that it is a disability that makes it hard to takes tests...but I wonder how she managed to take the tests to get all the other credits she already has?
What is cited here refers to individuals who are qualified but have disabilities. She was never qualified so why should this law even apply? Also the decision to stop hiring with emergency certificates was not applied to just Ms. Hall - anyone with an emergency certificate was dismissed. The law does not say that a disabled person is immune to policies that are applied to everyone else.
Anon 5:48--great points. Please use a moniker!
Simply focus on who we are dealing with here. Pat Vulcano, who by most reports, and NEVER denied by him, received his Doctoral Degree for 25 cents from a gumball machine, advertises his business as "student placement". For a nominal fee, the good doctor will advise your child what path to take through school to be accepted to the proper College to ensure a profitable career.
Mrs. Dr. Pat will run for whatever political office her husband vacates to ensure that their health benefits and government pensions remain fully funded. (I'm guessing, but aren't disability's of dependants covered without regard to age?)
These people have been living off the government teat for years! Ultimately, it's our fault, we keep electing them!
From what I'm reading, I think the district fucked up here and we may well be screwed yet again by the ineptness of our school administration and school board.
exactly why my kids are in a charter school. I really don't want people w/ LEARNING DISABILITIES TEACHING MY CHILDREN!
didn't anyone else have a WTF? moment when they read she has a LEARNING disability???
the EASD is truly fcuked up, intentional misspelling.
paI want to know how I can apply for a testing disability. I dreaded taking finals in college. Used to freeze up and question myself. Is that considered a testing disability? Oh and by the way, Mrs. Dr. Pat has another good state job that Sen. Reibman gave her years ago. She gets paid for doing death certificates. I have heard that it brings in about $70,000 a year? Not sure but still another government job.
I'm delighted to see this discussion continue.
Noël, please ensure that the folks that will run for office know when petitions must be filed, and what the campaign finance rules cover. Let me know if they need help.
The region III part of west ward is
open this year and the region I part of west ward is open next year.
I'm encouraged to see that most posters here think that the Vulcano era should end.
tachitup--thanks for the info and a great idea for a new post. i'll call the voters' registration office next week and ask for the details.
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