FALLS SCHOOLS: Open positions filled; district investigating more than a dozen employees.

Local News

November 20, 2009

By Nick Mattera The Niagara Gazette Fri Nov 20, 2009, 12:50 AM EST

The Niagara Falls Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to fill the two remaining vacancies stemming from September’s controversial residency firings.

Maria Fiore-Talarico filled the $36,950 high school English teaching position vacated by Roxanna Adrien. Mohr said it is a permanent substitute position and is for the remainder of the school year.

Nicholas Deuro filled the $29,734 vacancy as a computer application specialist. Deuro does not currently live within district boundaries, however, Mohr said he expects him to move to the Falls within the proper timeframe.

District Human Resource Director Phil Mohr said several candidates were interviewed for the positions.

The school board filled five of the seven open positions left by the Sept. 24 firings at an Oct. 22 board meeting.

Mohr said that although the district may have closure in terms of those firings, they are currently investigating more than a dozen other employees.

“We need to investigate, we need to follow the process. We have people come in and we meet with them to give them the opportunity to provide documentation,” he said.

The district has a contract with Probe Services, a private investigating firm, that comes with a cost to the district of about $900 to $950 per person investigated which puts the projected cost to the district between $18,000 to $19,000.

“The payment is on an individual case-by-case basis,” he said.

Mohr said the district has investigated about 20 employees including the seven already fired, and said that some have shown evidence upon further review proving they have a “domicile” within the district.

The residency policy was adopted in 1994 and requires all employees to live within the boundaries of the school district.

When called for comment, Board President Russell Petrozzi refused to speak to a reporter.