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School Board OKs Selection For Moon Lake Principal

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By RONNIE BLAIR, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Susan Barcellino, principal of an elementary school in Collier County, has been named principal at Moon Lake Elementary.

The Pasco County School Board approved Barcellino's appointment Tuesday evening, based on a recommendation by Pasco Schools Superintendent Heather Fiorentino. The appointment is to take effect March 31.

Barcellino succeeds Donna Busby, who is to become principal of Veterans Elementary, a new school scheduled to open in Wesley Chapel in August.

Barcellino began her education career in 1991 as an elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania, according to information from the Pasco school district. In 1998, she taught as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University. In 2001, she became principal at Baggaley Elementary School in the Greater Latrobe School District in Pennsylvania.

Since 2003, Barcellino has been principal at Lake Park Elementary School in Collier County. For about two years, she also has taught as an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University's Fort Myers and Cape Coral campuses.

Barcellino has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in elementary and middle school mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh.

She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Duquesne University.

In other action Tuesday, the school board decided to pursue its efforts to retain exclusive authority for contracting with charter schools in Pasco County.

In October, the state Board of Education granted exclusivity to just three school districts - Polk, Orange and Sarasota counties - out of more than 40 districts that applied to retain their sole authority over charter school contracts.

The state board's decision opens up the possibility that the Florida Schools of Excellence Commission, a statewide board created by the Legislature in 2006, could sign contracts with charter schools in Pasco. Until that state commission was created, local school boards were the only entities that could contract with charter schools, which are public schools operated by private groups.

Several districts denied exclusivity are appealing the state board's decision. Pasco agreed to join the appeal and retain a Tallahassee law firm at a cost of $2,500.

At the same time, board members expressed interest in applying for exclusivity again this year to the state Board of Education.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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