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FDNY Chief and Highest Ranking Firefighter to Survive the World Trade Center Collapse Visits NAHS Students

People call us heroes, but we were just doing our jobs.
—FDNY Battalion Commander Richard Picciotto

Peace Week once again featured the annual Leslie H. Wexner Leadership Academy with a conversation between Mr. Wexner and this year’s guest, Richard Picciotto. On Tuesday, April 24, New Albany High School students were honored to watch and participate in this educational event. Area firefighters were also invited to attend.

Established by New Albany residents Judy and Steve Tuckerman in 2007, the Leslie H. Wexner Leadership Academy at New Albany High School has presented informal leadership conversation to students of New Albany High School. Chief Picciotto’s appearance is sponsored by Abercrombie & Fitch and presented by The New Albany Community Foundation, the McCoy Community Center for the Arts, and New Albany-Plain Local Schools.

Richard Picciotto was an FDNY Battalion Commander in Manhattan on September 11, 2001. Following the terrorist attack, Chief Picciotto rushed inside the World Trade Center to rescue those inside, but soon found himself trapped in the smoldering rubble of the North Tower after its collapse. Buried for more than four hours, he emerged almost unscathed and was the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the collapse.

Chief Richard Picciotto’s gripping, first-person account provides a firefighter’s view of the 9/11 World Trade Center catastrophe and emergency response. Picciotto played a vital role in that massive operation, testified in front of the 9/11 Commission, and has additionally appeared on many major networks, including CNN, the History Channel, and National Geographic. His book, Last Man Down: A Firefighter’s Story chronicles his harrowing experience on 9/11, and has become a New York Times best-seller.

“The Leslie H. Wexner Leadership Academy is a priceless and profound educational program for our students, as well as staff, administrators and the entire community”, said NAPLS Superintendent April Domine. “The conversation between Mr. Wexner and Chief Picciotto demonstrates that there are no limits to what leadership is, and what it can do for our world”.

For the first time, all NAHS students were able to participate in this event.  Seniors and Juniors attended in person at the McCoy Center, while Sophomores and Freshmen viewed it live streamed into the gym. Senior Representatives of the NAHS Honors Society, Katherine Miller and Jacob Williams, were pleased to introduce Chief Picciotto and Mr. Wexner.

NAHS Principal Ric Stranges commented, “This invaluable educational experience extends beyond our students attending an event of this magnitude in that Mr. Wexner not only invites students to ask questions, but he clearly welcomes them”.

In addition to Leslie Wexner, the Wexner Leadership Academy program participants have included The Ohio State University President, Dr. E. Gordon Gee, community leader and philanthropist, Abigail Wexner and Clarence B. Jones, attorney, advisor and speechwriter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The departure of a beloved elementary school principal has resulted in an innovative redesign in leadership for the two New Albany-Plain Local elementary schools.

“Changes in our elementary leadership provided an important opportunity to consider a new, innovative leadership plan,” said Superintendent April Domine.  “A new Elementary Head of School will serve as head principal of the 2-5 building and provide leadership for the educational program in grades K-5.”

Superintendent Domine’s transition plan follows Dr. Madeline Partlow’s announcement that she will become the principal at Colonial Hills Elementary School in the Worthington City Schools district, effective August 1.

Dr. Partlow has served the New Albany-Plain Local Schools for 19 years.  In that time, she has served as the district’s Director of Teaching and Learning, and most recently, as the 4-5 Principal at the New Albany 2-5 Elementary School.

“Dr. Partlow’s leadership impact on this district has been extraordinary”, Superintendent Domine shared.   “Over the years, she has led our district through extensive curriculum, assessment, instruction, special education and gifted work.  Dr. Partlow has given immeasurable time and effort to support our students and staff.  She will be missed and we hope the entire community will join us in congratulating her on her professional accomplishments.”

“Because we spent several months searching for a strong leader for the 2-5 elementary school, it was apparent that Jennifer Denny, previously selected for the K-1 principal position, is the best candidate for the Elementary Head of School position,” Mrs. Domine has announced.  “With her extensive experience as a District Elementary Curriculum Administrator and an Elementary Principal, and her knowledge of research and national school reform, Mrs. Denny will be an excellent choice for the Elementary Head of School position.”

Our next step is to fill the K-1 Principal position.  The district plans to conduct interviews in May.

Another key goal in this leadership redesign is to strengthen and increase our leadership for gifted education.  With a high achieving overall population and almost thirty percent of our students identified as gifted, the district has decided to create a gifted coordinator position.  This individual will coordinate testing, identification and communication as well as the implementation of recommendations resulting from the Vanderbilt University study currently being conducted of the district’s gifted program.  Robin Ryan, currently the 2-3 Elementary Principal, will be the Gifted Coordinator beginning in the 2012-2013 school year. Mrs. Ryan has extensive experience teaching gifted students.  “Enhancing our gifted program will benefit not only our gifted students but all students as we infuse innovative learning models and increased rigor into our program,” added Mrs. Domine.

The principal positions being vacated by Madeline Partlow and Robin Ryan will be converted to assistant principal positions at the 2-5 elementary school.  Interviews for these positions will be held in early June.

New Albany-Plain Local School District recently completed a bond refinancing, resulting in a savings of $1.3 million.  The district is providing additional details to this transaction that were not captured in a recent Columbus Dispatch article.

In 2007, the New Albany-Plain Local Board of Education and district administrators decided to refinance bond debt, when interest rates were much lower than the original 2000 and 2002 bonds interest rates. The 2007 transaction resulted in a $1.17 million savings for the district.

This March, the district completed another refinancing that generated additional net savings of $142,181.  This recent transaction has resulted in a more stable bond situation and achieved net savings — the stated goal.

Here are key facts regarding the bond refinance:

1. Taxpayer money was not at risk.  There were safeguards built into the 2007 transaction that protected the district from losing money.
2. The district realized $1.3 million in net savings over the two related transactions in 2007 and 2012.  This figure includes all fees, costs and the price of the final termination of the bonds.
3. These transactions are appropriate and legal for public school districts under Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 133.  They have been audited by state auditors and found to be in compliance with the rules and regulations.  The district enjoys an eight-year record of clean, successful audits.

“Your confidence in our action is important to us,” said Mark Ryan, a board member and liaison to the Financial Review and Reporting Committee (FRRC).  “Residents who have further questions regarding this bond refinancing should contact a member of the board, the treasurer, or the superintendent for complete, accurate information.  Together with FRRC, we work diligently to project revenue and plan expenses for the coming years to ensure a sound fiscal plan for the district’s finances.”