Austintown school board member sends fiery e-mail, wants superin - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - It was a heated board of education meeting in Austintown, following a fiery e-mail sent by one board member asking Superintendent Vince Colaluca to resign.

The e-mail, sent by Harold Porter, states he can no longer tolerate "inadequate and failed leadership."

At one point in the e-mail Porter refers to Colaluca as a "dictator," adding that he has "lost the respect of just about every staff member in Austintown."

The e-mail, that made its way through the district, triggered a large turnout of concerned parents and staff with many expressing discontent on several issues including discontinuing benefits to bus drivers and a situation that almost resulted in bus cuts to Austintown children, attending non-public schools.

The outpouring of comments made during the meeting lead to a petition asking Colaluca to step down. The first to sign the petition was Porter.

"How can we come to you next year for a levy when we don't know how to manage the funds we already have?" Porter asked.

In a letter passed out during the meeting, Colaluca addresses the e-mail stating he believed Porter's call for his resignation is an act of retaliation for requiring Porter to comply with district procedures. The letter goes on to explain that any concern Porter has with Colaluca's performance is required to be addressed through a proper procedure.

"When you have tough financial times, you have to make tough decisions," Colaluca said. "To be honest, I don't have the final call on if we terminate an employee. If we do a reduction, the board votes on that."

Both men have said the issue is now a legal matter.

The president of the board said the e-mail in no way reflects the opinions of all five board members. He added Colaluca has received positive evaluations during his tenure as superintendent.