CNB Poll Results: The Public favors the Re-appointment of Dr. Vitola as City School Physician
Thursday, April 24, 2008
By Bill Cleary
As of 11 am Thursday April 24 there had been 156 votes cast on the recent Opinion Poll on ClearysNoteBook about whether or not Dr. Carl Vitola should be reappointed as physician for the Gloucester City School District. The poll began on April 20 and will be removed later today.
The majority of the votes were received from people in the immediate area. And some votes were cast from individuals living in such places as South Dakota, Florida, Kansas, Georgia, New York, Connecticut , Maine to mention a few.
The question presented to the public read "Do you think the City Superintendent or School Board is making a fair or right decision replacing such a Great Person like Dr. Carl Vitola?"
People were asked to vote either Yes or No; 79 percent voted NO while 20 percent were in favor.
Three people told this reporter (two of them being school board members) Superintendent Paul Spaventa had suggested to the Board that Dr. Vitola, whose office is in Turnersville, should be replaced with one of the City doctors.
Spaventa also suggested, according to these sources, that the present Board solicitor, Len Woods, be replaced.
Dr. Vitola has served the district since 1988. And Mr. Woods's law firm has represented the Board for four years.
Each year the contracts for professional services are renewed for a one year term. The Professional Services are: School Board Attorney, School Board Auditor, Architect, and General Physician. The filing deadline for those interested in these positions was April 18th. The contracts begin this year on April 25th.
It is not unusual for the Superintendent to recommend someone else to provide these services. Ultimately however it is the majority members of Board that make the final decision on who is appointed to these positions.
The School Board's reorganization meeting will be held tonight 7 PM in the Gloucester City High School Media Room, Route 130 and Market Street. The contracts for professional services will be awarded. Also the oath of office will be administered to the successful candidates of the April 15 school board election. They include: Kathleen McHugh, Robert Bennett Sr. and Jacqueline Borger, all elected for three year terms. And Edward Hubbs, who won the election for the unexpired one year term.