By
Yael Halon | Fox NewsAn incoming Massachusetts school superintendent
revealed that his job offer was rescinded prior to his start date after
he addressed two women on the school’s committee as "ladies" in an
email.
Vito Perrone was offered the position as
the head of Easthampton Schools on March 23, but was notified that the
job offer had been withdrawn over his choice of salutation in an email
to the chairperson and executive assistant, both female, who reportedly
interpreted his "ladies" greeting as a "microaggression," the Daily
Hampshire Gazette reported.
Perrone told the local outlet that he
sent the email in an attempt to negotiate higher pay and more sick days
after calculating that the annual salary of $151,000 was around $14,000
less than his existing job as an interim superintendent at another
school district. Perrone, who had served as principal of Easthampton Highschool
eight years earlier, said in a Friday interview that he was willing to
take a pay cut but was hoping for a cost of living adjustment in the
three-year contract.
Massachusetts school superintendent candidate Vito Perrone. (LinkedIn: Vito Perrone)
"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," he told the Gazette.
Perrone made the case in the
email addressed to Chairperson Cynthia Kwiecinski and Suzanne Colby,
executive assistant to the committee, who he addressed as "ladies" at
the top of the written exchange.
Perrone said Kwiecinski told him
that using "ladies" as a greeting was hostile and derogatory and that
"the fact that he didn’t know that as an educator was a problem,'" he
told the Gazette, adding that she also reprimanded him for using
"ladies" as a microaggression.
Shortly thereafter, he was informed that the job offer had been withdrawn following a vote.
"I
was shocked," he said in the interview Friday. "I grew up in a time
when ‘ladies’ and ‘gentlemen’ was a sign of respect. I didn’t intend to
insult anyone."
School superintendent candidate is out of a job after addressing female committee members as "ladies" in an email. (CyberGuy.com)
"I
don't want people to think I was not willing to negotiate in good
faith. I have chosen not to just leave it as ‘negotiations stalled,’" he
added. "I would rather share my truth, my sadness and disappointment
and try to find a way forward positively."
When reached for
comment, Kwiecinski told the Gazette that she could not address internal
matters. Perrone said he contacted to the Massachusetts Association of
School Superintendents but was told he had no options since he never
formally signed a contract.
"Honestly,
I am truly, truly disappointed that I won't be in Easthampton in that
building," Perrone told the Gazette. "I'm just sad."
Kwiecinski did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.
Yael Halon is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to yael.halon@fox.com.