Crowd descends on Warren County freeholders, technical school to fight for culinary arts teacher

WHITE TWP. | Nine-year-old Kirstyn Roloson stood before elected officials Wednesday and told them she might not attend Warren County Technical School if her older brother's favorite teacher is no longer there.

"Make a change," Kirstyn told the Warren County freeholders. "Put students first."

Traveling between meetings for the freeholders and the school board, about 100 people turned out Wednesday to protest the recent dismissal of culinary arts teacher Joe Delesky over a lack of qualifications. Delesky's supporters said he used to cook meals for the same public officials.

The uprising brought out students, parents, former colleagues, a former county freeholder and even Delesky's mother.

Bethlehem Township resident Louis Oravec, who started the school's culinary arts program 40 years ago and taught Delesky, told school board members they were making a "grave mistake."

"You should be proud that you have Mr. Delesky here as your instructor," Oravec said.

County Freeholder Director Rick Gardner told the crowd at the first meeting the freeholders, who appoint school board members, have no control over the board because it is autonomous.

About two hours later in Franklin Township, school board President Bradley Bartow read a statement to the public defending the board's decision and refuting accusations that it was retaliating against Delesky.

As vice president of the teachers union, Delesky participated in two years of contract negotiations that ended last year.

Delesky's culinary arts program was eliminated in November to make way for a new hospitality, tourism and culinary arts program slated to kick off in September. The new curriculum is expected to serve more students and offer a wider range of opportunities, Bartow said.

The school decided to make such program upgrades several years ago, he said.

"We have the obligation and courage to make difficult decisions for the betterment of the entire institution even though some decisions are unpopular with a few vocal critics," Bartow said.

Delesky was dismissed last month because his position was eliminated and he does not hold the state certification needed to run the new program, school officials have said.

Delesky became certified in food service in 1993, but since that title no longer exists, such teachers were only grandfathered for the positions they held at the time, said Richard Vespucci, spokesman for the state Department of Education. Therefore Delesky is not qualified for any other position other than the one he currently holds, Vespucci said. Food service certification was discontinued last year.

A Warren Tech teacher since 1992, Delesky said he was never given any indication that his certification was in question, despite having promoted the new program and helping to write its curriculum.

"I've tried to do the right thing all the way through," Delesky said while the school board met in closed session.

Having proper credentials doesn't simply make one a good teacher, former freeholder Ann Stone told current freeholders. Delesky has been dedicated to county residents, Stone said.

Speaking before the school board, Stone added, "What is so important here is we have to think about the students and keep the politics out of it."

As other children held up signs -- "Heck No, Don't Fire Joe" -- current and former students shared thoughts about how Delesky has impacted their lives and questioned the need for the new program.

Ryan Mason, who graduated from Warren Tech last year and is currently attending Johnson & Wales University, said he wants to become a culinary arts instructor like Delesky.

"He's an idol to me," Mason told the freeholders. "I want to follow in his footsteps."

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