Resignations official in Greenport; district looking to hire new athletic director
The Greenport school board officially accepted the resignations of three staffers at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
The list of employees leaving the district includes athletic director James Caliendo, head varsity football coach Michael Buck and part-time art teacher Maria Troise, the latter of whom has worked at the school for five years and resigned last month after accepting a full-time position at another school.
“We’re really in the preliminary stages,” Superintendent David Gamberg said about finding Ms. Troise’s replacement, adding that résumés for the position are currently being reviewed. “We’re going to be doing screening interviews and hope to fill that [position] before the next board meeting.”
While Ms. Troise’s position has yet to be filled, a full-time art teacher is currently employed by the school.
Mr. Buck also left his position last month, a decision that came nearly six weeks after he was hired. In a previous interview with The Suffolk Times, Mr. Buck said this is the first time he’s ever resigned from a position and that he did so after he didn’t receive a Greenport physical education job that he applied for. Mr. Buck is a former NFL quarterback who played for the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. Before coming to Greenport, he spent last year working as head coach for Bishop Mercy-McGann Diocesan High School’s football team.
Following Mr. Buck’s decision, Mr. Caliendo recommended that Jack Martilotta, who at the time was the Greenport football team’s defensive coordinator, fill the head coach vacancy. Mr. Martilotta was the Porters’ head coach for five years before that.
With Mr. Martilotta now serving as head coach, there’s an assistant coaching position left open.
Following Mr. Buck’s resignation, Mr. Caliendo also submitted a letter of resignation to the school, which will go into effect Nov. 11, after the fall athletic season is over. He was hired two years ago as the district’s part-time athletic director.
Mr. Caliendo had recommended Mr. Buck for the head coach position and said in an earlier interview he was disappointed Mr. Buck wasn’t also selected to fill the physical education teacher position.
The district is still in the process of hiring a new athletic director, Mr. Gamberg confirmed Tuesday.
“We have a little more time with the athletic director and we’re looking at a range of options for what’s the best way to fill it,” he said. “It is a part-time position and we have to have the right skill set.”
Photo Caption: Greenport athletic director James Caliendo is set to resign in November. (Credit: Garret Meade, file)
