Outrage is on the menu after a Massachusetts school superintendent had a job offer taken away after he referred to two women on the schools committee as ladies.
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Fox News reports that Vito Perrone had a March 23 job offer as the head of Easthampton Schools pulled out from under him. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported that Perrone sent an e-mail to the female chairperson and executive assistant and referred to them as ladies. They believed this to be a microaggression, and the job offer [was] revoked.
Perrone sent the e-mail in an attempt to negotiate for higher pay and more sick days. He calculated and realized the offered salary was $14,000 less than his previous job. He had served as the principal of Easthampton Highschool eight years earlier. Fox News reported that he was willing to take a pay cut for the position, but he wanted to negotiate certain factors, such as getting a cost-of-living adjustment for his three-year contract.
Perrone told the Gazette:
This job was not about the money for me. I honestly felt like I was coming home to Easthampton. I coached football here. I was [principal] here when we built the school. I have such wonderful memories. I was excited to come back.
Chairperson Cynthia Kwiecinski told Perrone that using the word ladies in an e-mail was inappropriate and that it was disturbing that he didnt know that as an educator. Shortly after sending the e-mail, Perrone received word that the school was revoking the job offer after taking a vote on the issue.
He gave an interview about this and said, I was shocked, and I grew up in a time when ladies and gentlemen was a sign of respect. I didnt intend to insult anyone.
He went on to add:
I dont want people to think I was [not] willing to negotiate in good faith. I have chosen not to just leave it as negotiations stalled, and I would rather share my truth, my sadness, and disappointment and try to find a way forward positively.
The Gazette contacted Kwiecinski on this story but said she would not discuss internal matters. Therefore, she shut down the opportunity to explain her position to individuals who might have wanted to know more about why she made the choices in this case.
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