Warren County Technical School hires former business teacher to run hospitality program

FRANKLIN TWP. | Three months after the controversial dismissal of a culinary arts teacher, the Warren County Technical School Board hired his former colleague Wednesday to run the new hospitality administration and management program.

A former business management instructor, Pedro Fortun is scheduled to begin in September as head of the new four-year program, an expansion of the school's former culinary arts program. Fortun is slated to earn $59,269.

Fortun, who originally came to Warren Tech at the start of last school year, has owned a restaurant and previously taught at a culinary school in New York, Chief School Administrator Robert Glowacky said during a break in Wednesday's meeting.

"When you sit and you talk with a person, you see their worldly experience that you want to see in a classroom," Glowacky said. "When you talk to Pedro, there's something about his personality that he just connects with everybody."

Fortun was not rehired in April for business management because he lacked state certification, Glowacky said. Since then, Fortun has earned the proper credentials to run the hospitality program, he said.

Fortun did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday night.

The school released Fortun at the same time three months ago that culinary arts teacher Joe Delesky was dismissed because Delesky's position had been eliminated. A Warren Tech graduate and a teacher since 1992, Delesky did not hold the state certification needed to run the new program.

Delesky applied for the job that went to Fortun, but he still lacks the appropriate credentials, Glowacky said Wednesday. Delesky previously said he helped develop the new curriculum with Fortun.

Delesky's dismissal set off a firestorm of protests from parents, students and other supporters, who crowded separate meetings of the school board and Warren County freeholders on the same May night.

As union vice president, Delesky had participated in more than two years of contract negotiations that ended last summer. At the May 13 meeting, school board President Bradley Bartow refuted accusations of retaliation against Delesky and said the new program would offer a wider range of opportunities to students.

Through the new program, students are expected to learn traditional cooking skills while studying the management and marketing associated with working in restaurants and other venues. About 40 students are enrolled, Glowacky said.

Glowacky said he wants Fortun to do more cooking videos with students, which would appear on the Warren Tech Web site.

"He has that ability and that flair that presence in front of the camera," Glowacky said.