Greater Clark CFO announces second retirement

Clark County

Discussion

November 12, 2009

Effective date believed to be Jan. 1 for Frank Collesano

By TARA HETTINGER The News and Tribune Thu Nov 12, 2009, 06:36 PM EST

Just months after taking on the job, Frank Collesano, Greater Clark County Schools’ chief financial officer, announced his second retirement.

Assistant Superintendent Travis Haire confirmed a verbal announcement, but said Collesano has not submitted anything in writing.

“There’s nothing formal,” he said.

However, Christina Gilkey, school board vice president, said she thinks it will go through.

“I have heard his intentions were to retire effective Jan. 1,” she said. “We have not received anything in writing ... but from the little time I’ve known him, he seems like a strong-willed person. “If that’s what his decision is, I’m sure he’ll follow through with it.”

Collesano came out of retirement to come on board as the CFO toward at the end of July. He had worked with Greater Clark Superintendent Stephen Daeschner while he and Daeschner were at Jefferson County Public Schools.

Collesano retired while Daeschner was still at JCPS, but he offered to come out of retirement should Daeschner ever return to this area.

So, Daeschner asked him to do just that this past summer.

The quick turnaround was a shock to Gilkey.

“I was surprised,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

She said she’s heard rumors on his reasoning, but has not heard anything definitive from Collesano.

“Frank did an excellent job with our budget,” Gilkey said. “I hate that he’s leaving us so quickly. I really do. It’s been only about four months.”

However, the news came after a contentious school board meeting Tuesday at which the board voted against giving work to an architectural company recommended by Collesano. Board members at the time of the vote said they were not happy in how the project and recommendation were presented to the board because normal procedures weren’t followed — such as putting the project out for bid.

Gilkey said it’s the superintendent’s job to find and interview potential cabinet members, such as a CFO. She said the board will have to vote to approve any hire and added she’s not sure if there is anyone in mind or if the search will be a challenging one.

Ernie Gilbert, board president, said he thought it would be inappropriate to comment, since the resignation isn’t official.

Messages to Daeschner and Collesano were not returned as of press time.

SO YOU KNOW

• In late July, Frank Collesano was hired by the Greater Clark County Schools’ board as chief financial officer, at an annual salary of $111,446. Soon, after, Collesano went to work to alleviate an about $1.1 million bond deficit on a building project. In September, he told The Evening News he had transferred money from a treasury note to a money market account, a move expected to gain about $160,000. He reportedly announced his retirement Tuesday evening.