Is it time for Dr. DiSanti to go?  Absolutely!

 

This past weekend, I arrived home from Ithaca, New York, where I attend Cornell University and was greeted by a smattering of “Keep DiSanti” signs posted around Hershey.  I couldn’t help feeling a bit angry—actually personally offended—when I saw these signs.  As a 2001 graduate of Hershey High School whose family still lives in the district and whose brother still attends Hershey High School, I strongly support the members of the Derry Township School Board who feel that it is time for a change in the leadership of our schools, and I feel that I owe it to the board and to the community to share my experiences with Dr. DiSanti and the reasons I feel it is time for him to move on. 

 

At the June 9 school board meeting, board member Bonnie Goble presented a list of reasons why the board is considering not renewing Dr. DiSanti’s contract.  All of these are valid concerns, but I ask the board and the community to consider yet one more reason before making a final decision. 

 

Consider the fundamental purpose of a school system: I don’t think any board members or parents would disagree that the single most important reason for having schools is to provide children with an education—with the opportunity to learn and grow both academically and personally.  To accomplish this requires a dedicated team of teachers, staff members, and administrators who can work together under the leadership of the district superintendent with the best interests of the students as their most important concern.  From my personal experience, Dr. DiSanti is not the leader who can bring out the best in Hershey’s schools.

 

I attended Hershey schools from Kindergarten through 12^th grade and had an overwhelmingly positive educational experience, largely as a result of my parents and a group of teachers who not only taught me a great deal academically, but also encouraged me to open my mind and learn more about myself and about the world.  Although I was years younger and more naïve than my teachers, I enjoyed a mutual respect with them and they treated students as though we, even as kids, were able to make a valuable contribution to the academic environment and to society.  I generally found this to be the case throughout the district, from teachers to administrators, with one clear exception: Dr. DiSanti.

 

During my time at Hershey High School, I was very involved in school activities, from swimming to band and orchestra to the high school newspaper, The Broadcaster.  It was writing an article for The Broadcaster near the beginning of my junior year that brought me into contact with Dr. DiSanti.  I was working on a news article about a school board decision to allow the school probation officer to lock an unloaded weapon in the school while he was on duty.  I knew that anything involving a gun in the school was bound to be a sensitive issue, so in an attempt to write as unbiased an account as possible, I approached Dr. DiSanti and asked if I could interview him.  At the time, the whole journalism class was at the district office having our photos taken for Broadcaster press passes, and Dr. DiSanti said he had a few minutes and I could talk to him then.  The rest of the class left, and I, along with the high school journalism teacher, stayed to talk to him.  

 

I asked my first question—I was wondering about the circumstances surrounding the decision, which was made in a closed executive session meeting—and as Dr. DiSanti started to answer, I began taking notes.  I had only written a few words when Dr. DiSanti reached down and took my pen out of my hand, placed it (rather roughly) on a nearby table, and pointed to his eyes.  “I want you to LOOK at me when I talk to you!” he said. 

 

I was too stunned to say much of anything during the rest of the “interview” and by the time I left the district office I was ready to cry.  I’d never felt so intimidated and threatened in an interview before.  I discussed the situation with the teacher that I was with and she concurred that the interview had made her uncomfortable as well.  Together we decided that the paper simply wouldn’t run the story I’d intended to write—to run the story without Dr. DiSanti’s input would have been unfair and it was our policy to not quote anyone without having interview notes.  Since he’d taken my pen, I had none.   

 

I was hoping the situation was over, but several days later on what happened to be Back-to-School Night, the newspaper staff was in the high school publishing room for our usual evening layout to put the paper together before sending it to press.  Dr. DiSanti came into the publishing room and began looking over the pages laid out on the tables.  I was at one of the computers in the corner hoping he wouldn’t see me, but a few minutes later, he asked where the article was from the interview he’d had the other day.

 

I turned around and stood up to speak to him.  “We decided not to run the article,” I said.  He asked why not, and I told him that it was our policy not to run articles if we didn’t have interview notes, and that I didn’t have notes because he’d taken the pen out of my hand. 

 

“Now you listen to me sweetheart…” he began, and started to tell me why he’d taken the pen away from me, calling me “sweetheart” several more times as he did.

 

“Please don’t call me sweetheart,” I asked as respectfully as I could.

 

He said he wanted to discuss the situation more in private and told me to come with him.  I already felt very uncomfortable, and asked him why we couldn’t discuss it right there.  “Because I’m the superintendent and you’re a student,” he said, and told me that it would be insubordination if I didn’t do what he asked.  I was trying to stay as calm and respectful as possible, so I followed him across the hall into the high school guidance office, where he took me into one of the counselors’ empty office and shut the door. 

 

In the office, he called me sweetheart again, and I again asked him not to, and he told me that he was only using the term to be nice.  He continued to tell me that he didn’t think he was at all out of line during our earlier interview.  When he was finished talking to me, I went back to the publishing room feeling intimidated, sexually harassed, and disrespected.  I was also crying and infuriated. 

 

I discussed the situation with my journalism teacher and my parents, who were very upset.  Subsequently my parents met with then-school board President Brad Dorrance and Dr. DiSanti to discuss the matter.  However, my parents never received a reasonable explanation from Dr. DiSanti nor an apology. 

 

 Mr. Dorrance did not seem to feel that the situation deserved attention by the entire board, so while we were extremely frustrated, we ultimately decided it would be best just to let the situation go and to avoid dealing with Dr. DiSanti as much as possible in the future. 

 

I would hope that my experience was not typical of how Dr. DiSanti deals with other students, facility, and administrators.  Unfortunately as my last two years at Hershey High School progressed, it became clear to me that my experience was not unique.

 

Now that Dr. DiSanti’s contract is being discussed and those on both sides of the issue are voicing their opinions, my family and I feel that it is important for the school board and community to be aware of the interaction we’ve had with him.  At the June 9 board meeting, Dr. DiSanti (as quoted in the Hershey Chronicle) said that he “saluted those who’ve offered criticism” for being honest.  Though my criticism of Dr. DiSanti is long overdue, I believe it is time for it to be shared.  I truly feel that Dr. DiSanti lacks some ability and judgment when it comes to dealing with some of his subordinates—particularly students and females.  For someone who oversees a largely female group of teachers, staff, and administrators and who is ultimately in charge of the welfare of hundreds of students, I feel that this is a serious concern. 

 

Once again, I strongly support the members of the board who intend to vote against renewing Dr. DiSanti’s contract.  I think Hershey can find someone better—someone who can match the excellence of our school district—and we owe it to the teachers, staff, administration, and most importantly, the students to find a superintendent who can treat everyone with dignity and respect. 

 

Respectfully,

Lindsay Watkins

Hershey High School ‘01