The principal of the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill is being paid for not working. And you, the members of the public who pay her salary, are not allowed to know why or how long this will last, according to other school officials.
Superintendent William DeRosa, asked about the status of Principal Deborah DePaolo, would say only that she is on professional leave. At first he wouldn't even say if she was being paid — a day later he relented and said she was.
Regional School Committee members wouldn't say either. Russell Osborn, of Newbury, said DePaolo's status is none of the public's business. He said he didn't even know himself why she was on leave.
"I don't know, and if I did know I probably wouldn't tell you," he said. "The newspapers have more important things to write about."
That kind of presumptuous arrogance has become far too common among those who claim they are public servants, but who really believe it is the public who are servants — their servants. Who appointed Osborn as the arbiter of what the public should know or what newspapers should report?
The public does not have a right to know every detail of public employees' personal lives, but it does have a right to know details of their professional lives. Is DePaolo ill? Under some kind of medical treatment? Is she being disciplined? Is she looking for another job?
Taxpayers are footing the bill for her $120,869 salary, and deserve to know why the school is paying for a principal who is not working, in the middle of the academic year.
But, it is clear that this attitude and lack of transparency will continue as long as the public allows it.
DePaolo, contacted at her home in Easton, told a reporter, "I'm not at liberty to talk with you about this."
The response from the public to such a declaration ought to be, "Then we are not at liberty to pay you."
Those on the public payroll should know that their professional life is subject to public scrutiny. If they want privacy, they should work in the private sector.
