W-b Man Charged In Store Robbery 
Several Other Robberies With A Similar Pattern Are Still Under Investigation,
Police Say.

Andrew Fetsko

By MARK GUYDISH markg@leader.net
 Wednesday, May 23, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 11A 





KINGSTON - The Luzerne Intermediate Unit board is poised to pick an
executive director tonight and the two front-runners agreed - with some
hesitation on both sides - to make their credentials public. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 From the moment the board advertised the position in March, substitute
Executive Director Michael Ostrowski and Wyoming Valley West Middle School
Principal Augie Piazza were considered the front-runners. Allegations of
deal-making and vote-swapping quickly surfaced but both men - and board
members cited in the scuttlebutt - adamantly denied the rumors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Times Leader asked both men for resumes, offering to publish
credentials side-by-side. The paper also asked several board members for the
names of other candidates - to give them the same chance to publish their
credentials - but board members would not release the names, saying it was a
personnel issue. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Though Piazza and Ostrowski expressed concerns, by Friday each agreed to
release his resume if the other did. Piazza provided a three-page resume, but
on Tuesday Ostrowski said he had reconsidered and did not want to release his
resume. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I don't want to add fuel to the fire,'' Ostrowski said Tuesday afternoon,
referring to the months of controversy surrounding the selection process. He
did, however, outline his relevant work and education experience. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The LIU provides education for special needs students in Luzerne County
school districts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In a nutshell, here's how the two match up: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Education: Piazza has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from
Mansfield University with a minor in psychology and social science. He has
master's degree in the same field from Wilkes University. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ostrowski said he has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from
King's College with a ``special education component'' from College
Misericordia, and a master's degree in special education from Marywood
College. He also completed most of the requirements for a doctorate from the
University of Pennsylvania, but said he got sidetracked when his mother became
ill and he didn't finish his dissertation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Certifications: Both men have letters of eligibility for assistant
superintendent and superintendent. Both have principal's certifications.
Piazza's resume cites state certificates for ``student assistance program''
and ``instructional support training.'' Ostrowski said he has a supervisor's
certificate and ``certification in curriculum and instruction.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Experience: Piazza lists his work at Wyoming Valley West since 1971,
including principal, assistant principal, instructional support specialist,
social studies and reading instructor, head teacher/department chairperson for
several subjects and football coach. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ostrowski said he began his career in 1973 teaching at the White Haven
Center, a state facility for people with acute mental retardation. After five
years, he worked with mainstreamed students at the Wilkes-Barre Area
Vocational Technical School, then became vocational coordinator at the LIU
before being named substitute executive director last May. He also coached
basketball. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Both men have taught at local universities and listed membership with
multiple professional organizations. Piazza noted he is a member of both the
Pittston Area School Board and the Wilkes-Barre Vocational Technical School
Board. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Piazza believes he has had a wider range of administrative experience, and
Ostrowski cites the year he has spent doing the job of executive director. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The LIU board's agenda did not list naming an executive director at
tonight's meeting, according to board member Randy Tomasacci, but he and
member Brian Dunn said they expected it to come up for vote. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mark Guydish, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7161. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Liu's Top Two Contenders Fire Salvos Of Credentials 
No Vote Is Scheduled For Tonight's Meeting, But Two Board Members Say They
Expect Choice Of Executive Director To Come Up.

Liu's Top Two Contenders Fire Salvos Of Credentials No Vote Is Scheduled For Tonight's Meeting, But Two Board Members Say They Expect Choice Of Executive Director To Come Up.