Parents question teacher's release

Parents in the Northport-East Northport school district turned out at last night's board meeting to question why a popular elementary school music teacher would not be returning to the district.

Rebecca Posteraro, who has taught at Bellerose Elementary School since 2008, was informed by the district in May that she would be denied tenure. The teacher declined to comment last week, referring questions to the attorneys she has hired to fight the decision.

The district placed her on home leave starting May 19; she will be paid until the end of June, said one of her lawyers, Terence Smolev. The district is expected to deny her tenure at a board meeting scheduled later this month.

Peter Mainetti, 46, who said his two sons were taught by Posteraro, asked the board if parents would ever be given an explanation for her departure. "We felt like she did a great job and really connected with the kids," Mainetti said.

Board members responded they could not divulge any specifics because of confidentiality of personnel decisions.

Monica Greenwood, 41, who has three children in the district, said she was unhappy how news of Posteraro's departure was delivered, through a letter sent home to parents.

"I'm disappointed," she said. "We had a good experience with her."

Posteraro's lawyers said she received stellar performance reviews until after she led a school production in February. Just before the curtain rose, she had fractured her leg. She received wide praise then for her "show-must-go-on" spirit -- including accolades from parents and from school principal Barbara Falotico. But her lawyers said that event seemed to mark the time that her employment experience began to deteriorate.

Superintendent Marylou McDermott, in a statement Monday afternoon, said, "For good reason, it is the consistent practice of this board to avoid discussion of personnel matters in public. This is done both for the protection of the board and the employee involved. Hence, the board will make no comment regarding the employment status or the continuation of employment status of any employee."

Posteraro, in fighting the tenure decision, asked the superintendent and school board to state the reasons for the denial. The district, in a letter dated May 27, said parents had complained about her and that she was unwilling to accept criticism from her supervisors, among other issues. Posteraro's lawyers asked for more specific information but the district refused, Smolev said.

Posteraro earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts in music and vocal performance from SUNY Purchase in 1999. She received a master's degree in music education from C.W. Post Campus at Long Island University in 2008.

Jenna Rugile, whose daughter Maya is one of Posteraro's students, said before the meeting, "She is very warm and loving with the kids, and at the same time she knows how to take control of the classroom."