Valley Independent Sentinel

Lionetti Questions Hiring Of Derby Basketball Coach

by Eugene Driscoll | Nov 27, 2011 8:20 pm

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Posted to: Derby, Sports

A Derby resident is questioning the process the school district used to hire a varsity boys basketball coach.

The Derby Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Francisco Salazar as the high school basketball coach in July. Salazar is a Spanish teacher at Derby High School and has previous experience coaching athletic teams within the district.

However, Thomas Lionetti, a lifelong resident of the city, complained that school officials did not advertise for the position externally — and they didn’t use a search committee to screen applicants.

Lionetti is an active and outspoken Derby resident. He first asked questions about the basketball coach’s hiring at the September meeting of the Derby Board of Education.

Lionetti pointed out a community search committee was used after Carmen DiCenso retired as Derby High School’s football coach. He was replaced by Derby High School graduate George French.

Lionetti, had also complained about that hiring process too, saying that the committee formed then was a “dog and pony show.”

Nevertheless, Lionetti said the school district should have followed its past practice and used a committee before hiring the basketball coach.

Lionetti said he knows at least three men who would have applied for the position.

The Derby Public Schools system does not have a policy saying coaching jobs have to be posted externally. In fact, meeting minutes from the school board show the principal’s position at the high school was advertised internally only.

With athletic coaches, the high school prefers to hire from within, because it increases the chances of student involvement and it provides for better supervision of student athletes, according to new Derby High School Principal Greg Galliard.

In addition, a teacher is better able to monitor the students’ academic performance, Galliard said.

Lionetti, a 1968 graduate of Derby High School, said he’s been following Derby athletics his entire life. The jobs are often posted externally, Lionetti said.

In addition, Lionetti is complaining that Salazar is the brother-in-law of Derby Athletic Director Joseph Orazietti.

“I think the proper thing would have been to follow past practice and post the job externally. It looks too much like nepotism the way they did it,” Lionetti said.

Galliard said the procedure used to hire Salazar was sound.

There were two internal candidates for the job. One candidate dropped out, leaving Salazar the lone candidate.

Galliard said a search committee was formed — but it never convened once Salazar became the lone candidate. The committee included Galliard, Orazietti, a parent and another coach.

The recommendation to hire Salazar was passed from the athletic director to the principal, who endorsed the recommendation and passed it to school Superintendent Stephen Tracy.

Tracy made the recommendation to the Derby Board of Education, who approved the appointment with a public vote.

“Coach Salazar is qualified and experienced. We are fortunate to have him as basketball coach,” Galliard said.

Lionetti said the school district should have advertised the job externally and used its committee, especially when the number of candidates dropped to one. Doing so would have eliminated any appearance of favoritism, Lionetti said.

After Lionetti first raised his questions at the September school board meeting, he submitted a list of questions about the hiring to the school district. Orazietti, the athletic coach, responded in an e-mail, which Lionetti gave to the Valley Indy.

School officials pointed out they are trying to increase participation in the Derby athletic program — a program that is regularly on the chopping block during the annual school budget process.

“My goal was to bring up the (high school) basketball roster numbers,” Orazietti said. “This process would have greater success if we hired a coach who taught in the (high school) and could make contact with all potential student athletes in our school.”

“Since Coach Salazar was qualified we recommended him for the position,” Orazietti said.

Orazietti could not be reached for comment.

Superintendent Stephen Tracy said he offered to arrange a meeting with him, Lionetti and Galliard, but Lionetti did not respond.

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