Salem Opens Investigation Into High School Principal's Hiring

SALEM, MA — Calling concerns over the abrupt resignation and replacement of Salem High School's principal last month "legitimate," Mayor Kim Driscoll said Monday the school committee has opened a review of the incident. Driscoll, who also chairs the school committee, said details of Jennifer DeStefano's resignation and the hiring of Vittoria Pacifico to an 18-month contract to serve as principal "paint a concerning picture." The school committee, which was scheduled to meet Monday night, is in the final stages of its review of Salem Public Schools Superintendent Margarita Ruiz.

"There have been legitimate concerns raised about the process followed by the Superintendent and the veracity of her statements surrounding the previous high school principal’s recent resignation and the immediate appointment of a successor. In addition, questions have been raised regarding the licensing status of the successor principal and the failure to share that information in an upfront manner," Driscoll said in a statement. "Finally, as a result of public forums held regarding these changes at the high school, students and parents raised other reasonable and, I know, frustrating concerns regarding teacher vacancies and communication gaps among students, staff, and families at Salem High."

At Monday night's school committee meeting, a group of parents is expected to ask the school committee to take a vote of no confidence in Driscoll and Ruiz. A letter listing parents' grievances has been circulated in a Facebook group for the parents of Salem Public Schools students.

DeStefano resigned as principal of Salem High School on March 13, less than a year after taking the job in July 2018. She has since said she did not feel supported by administrators as she tried to turn around the struggling school. On the same day, Ruiz announced Vittoria Pacifico had been hired as her interim replacement. Pacifico does not have the proper license for public school principals in Massachusetts, a fact Ruiz dismissed as a "non-issue" because she has 90 days to get the license or apply for a waiver.

QUICK STUDY: The Salem High School Principal Controversy

Pacifico contacted Salem Public Schools about an unadvertised, interim high school principal position as early as Jan. 29. She interviewed for the job on Feb. 4 and was offered the position on Feb. 14, a month before DeStefano resigned.

"To ensure we have full information and context we have requested that the Superintendent provide a timeline and report on the activities related to the high school principal transition," Driscoll said. The review will also include interviews with direct reports, as well as principals and school leaders who have left the district over the last year.

Driscoll expects the review to be discussed at the school committee meeting on April 22.

"It is important to note that, while the Committee does not hire school principals, we are responsible for holding the Superintendent accountable," Driscoll said. "Ensuring successful outcomes in our public education system is the most important work of local government. Hard work is taking place on a daily basis by many dedicated individuals both within and outside of our schools, all focused on the single objective of increasing opportunities for Salem students. While we have made significant progress in our public schools over the last few years, we know we have more to do to close achievement gaps and help all students succeed."

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).