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board of trustees of Christian Community0VIIf t |house on her farm, she spendscasionallive on the farm.By JOE HARTDaily Times Staff WriterCHESTER - Famed bandleader Marty Caruso says he’s still working with students in the Chester-Upland School Distrirt despite having been cut from the payroll whifesschool administrators review his status.Caruso, who was hired to guide problem students into show-business careers, strongly denied accusations by some school directorsthat he was doing nothing for his $6,000annual salary. fpfltuC;;-:':School Board President Peggy Charleston said Caruso’s salary and benefits have been frozen since the board ordered a review of his contributions in late March.But he said that doesn't matter.I don’t care about that, he said. I told them that's okay. I'll help the kids — that’s what I’ve been doing all my life.A well-known music teacher andbandleader on A1 Albert’s TV program Showcase, Caruso was accused by some school directors of being a ghost on thepayroll because he had no office or superomlt;visor to report to while he collected some $5,500 of his salary.Caruso said the criticism was very unfair” and he didn’t deserve it.Since January, he said, he’s met with school teachers, American Cablevision executives and the Chamber of Commerce to explore ways he can help students in thedistrictHe arranged for a group of Pulaski Junior High students to appear on Showcase in mid-April, and that taping was scheduled long before some board members went public with their dissatisfaction.And on April 25, Caruso was at Chester High School for a talent show. He's now working on polishing some of the performances he saw for future network TVappearances.With things like this, you gotta preparethese kids You cotta helD them, rehearsethem, he said. You don't do these things overnight \ -,'T - ^1Caruso said he’s met with school officials four times in recent weeks to determine what he’ll be doing in the future.While Schools Superintendent Harold T.The only reason so much is being done now is because certain board members foundout that he was getting paid for doing nothing, he said.If he's worried about his reputation, then this is the last place he should be, Bell said.I 1 -I?MEDIA — la as interview at his office here last week, bandleader Marty Caruso said criticism he's received from Chester-Upland school directors is unfounded and has hurt him deeply.I thought they should have called me before the beard and told me what they had in mind. I even thought of resigning, he said. I'm not used to dealing with people like this.»♦00'IS■Why didn’t they call me (with their complaints)? They've taken the heart out rtf me, that's what they’ve done Caruso said when he was hired by the district he asked for an office at the administration building hut was tamed down for lackof ipm. I* /VThey had no room for me. Where am I supposed to go? he said. All the work I've done, I’ve done from here.He noted that he's speat not one penny of a $12$ stipend he was granted for travelingand office expenses While- Acknowledging that his first few were less than productive, he said he had called the district repeatedly to find out what he was supposed to do but was told administrators weren’t ready for him yet.You know how many phone calls I made? he said. “There’s ao commaalcalioB here, don’t yoa understand? But nobody's tried more than I have.- JOE HARTSmith said we haven’t done anything extensive yet, Charleston indicated it’s likely Caruso will be used on an on-call basis andwill be paid accordingly.He certainly is a professional person, and I think he would have a lot to offer if channeled in the right direction, she said.1 directors Richard Bell and ;11 disagreed.Caruso would be wise to rcmessIt’s hard to be honest and deal with the Chester-Upland School District because of the political implications which are involved here, which are too strong, too deep.”Mitchell said the talented students Caruso is working with will find their own way. I’d rather take the money and spend it and utilize the facilities for the child who can’t.A gifted football player will find his own way in life. What about the kid who doesn't have anything? Who did we hire for him?Where’s he ooine tn on0’’ Mitrhell sairf
Newspaper Details
Delaware County Daily Times
Chester, Pennsylvania, US
Mon, May 07, 1984
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
FL, USA 18 Jan 2022
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