I have no personal opinion regarding this hiring but I have to question the many bloggers who state this individual has no experience in human resources. Experience is not the only factor when considering to hire an individual for a position. I spent more than 10 years in business management and let me tell you, I have hired some people who have the experience and couldn't do the job that someone with educational experience but not direct hands on experience in the business management field. When hiring, a person has to be looked at from many different views and the deciding factor is not necessarily the experience factor. Hirings, especially in a public sector is much like a basketball game. Everyone in the stands can officiate the game better than the referee, yet those in the stands have not read the rule book or have taken the exam to be a referee. The cheap seats are easy to make decesions from, yet many people do not go back to school, apply, or run for elected office. If people have a problem and feel they can do the job better, go get your administrative degree in education or run for the school board. Both are thankless jobs and once again, hiring policies are much easier to criticize when the accountability is not upon the person who is responsible for the hiring.

I don't know the man and have no opinion on whether or not he is the best person for the job.
But the process is suspect from the beginning when only one candidate applies, regardless of whether or not applications were accepted from within or without.
Only one person considered for the number two position in the administration?
.
What's wrong with this picture?

His job is to work with the parents of the district he works in, not just do what is in the districts best interests. Salerno seems more like a politician than a Principle. From what I have seen, he has no problem sweeping problems under the rug. This is a man that does not always do the right thing.

Hello! Where is his experience in human resources? Does he know employment law, labor relations, wage and salary administration? NO! He has a PhD in education. Come on people, do we have to teach him what he should have known to be qualified for the job?

I recall during my 9 years on the school board that when the district would hire someone out of the district that we weren't being diligent on promoting from within. My guess is these same "bloggers" would criticize that approach as well. I have no comment on this hire other than I was involved with many many hiring decisions within the ditrict and a vast majority were quality hires, and quality persons. I don't believe there is anything to indicate this hire isn't the same.

slainte - I would have to agree wholeheartedly. Its probably much too late, but Dr. Evert should seriously reconsider that recommendation. He's warm and fuzzy and says all of the right things, but is of NO substance.

After having worked with Dr. Salerno at Marshall Middle School for quite some while, I believe the Janesville School District couldn't be in better hands! One only has to see Dr. Salerno interacting with students to know how much he cares and enjoys working with them. He has always worked very hard to improve the process for students to learn how they learn best, and to make our work place enjoyable and the best it can be. It has been a pleasure working with him at Marshall, and he will be missed!

I don't know why we elect a school board or hire administrators when obviously the entire operation could be run by Gazettextra commenters. Imagine the threads about buying staplers!

jtmek: I agree. Downtown knew that he was the chosen one before Dr. Johnson even was thinking about leaving. Frankly, I'm relieved that he pulled his name from PHS. The farther from the actual schools the better! However, on the flip side, one advantage that we must think about is that he has actually worked w/ kids. That could be a plus. Let's hope for the best.

prevention, yes, it is quite obvious he got the job because of who he knows! Why else would he have pulled his name from the possible Parker principal job unless he ALREADY knew that he'd be getting Dr. Johnson's old job?

No. He is being recommended for the job because his education/degree is in this field. He recently finished his doctorate in this field. As I have stated in prior posts about this...why not use your degree, right? I, personally, have enjoyed having him at MMS. If everybody liked all the same people, the world would be boring. Dr. Salerno's goal is not to make everyone like him...it's to perform his job/duties the best way he can.

So, from what I am understanding from the comments is that this guy got the job because he knows the right people?

People thought things would be better when Johnson left...

...didn't really know they could get worse.

I think this promotion is a joke but I am THRILLED that he is leaving Marshall. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT? He has no HR experience? Do you not have to know anything about HR to get the top HR job? Maybe he is a nice guy but surely you HAVE to know about the job you are taking. Does this mean Angel Tullar does all the work but none of the pay? Shame on you Tome Evert!

Gee, that came as a total surprise! I sure hope no one else wasted their time applying.