Cupcake-Based Suspension in Greenwich

Cupcake delivery started dispute that led to principal's suspension
By Hoa Nguyen Staff Writer Stamford Advocate

GREENWICH - A controversy consuming Glenville School began as a mission to deliver cupcakes to a third-grader's classroom and a dispute between a principal and a parent over school policy on celebrating birthdays.

At stake is the job of suspended Glenville School Principal Marc D'Amico, who, his lawyer said, does not deserve to lose his job.

"This man is being proposed for removal," Hamden lawyer John Gesmonde said. "I will confirm it was about cupcakes and birthday cakes."

But parent Frank Carbino, who said he was prohibited from delivering cupcakes to his daughter's classroom earlier this month, believes his reputation is on the line.

"All I've wanted to do was just clear my name of the whole thing," Carbino said. "It's more of an integrity thing."

Carbino said he went to the main office of Glenville School shortly before 2 p.m. May 6 to deliver cupcakes to his daughter who was turning 9 that day. But, he said, the school secretary said the cupcakes were to be left at the counter for his daughter to pick up and take back to her class without him. He protested, saying his wife had cleared the birthday plans with the teacher the day before.

Carbino said he was asked to wait to speak to D'Amico, who told him school policy prohibited parents from personally delivering birthday cakes or treats.

Carbino said that when he returned home, he fired off a letter to district officials telling them D'Amico had singled him on that particular occasion.

But district officials told Carbino the principal was right and the school had a policy dating back to "forever" asking parents to refrain from delivering birthday treats, Carbino said.

Carbino said that when he went to the school's Web site, he found the document with a section titled, "Birthday Celebrations," had been created at 2:18 p.m. May 6, a few minutes after he had argued with D'Amico and left the school.

But Gesmonde said that after the run-in with Carbino and learning that other parents ignored the rule, D'Amico believed that he needed to make things clear by adding the section to the student handbook.

Celia Fernandez, co-president of the parent-teacher association and a parent who supports D'Amico keeping his job, said she sees it from both sides. Parents deliver birthday cakes to their children's classrooms, but school officials also have a practice of telling parents who sign in at the main office to leave cupcakes for pickup.

D'Amico, who has been asked to refrain from speaking on the matter, expects to meet with the superintendent on Monday, Gesmonde said. Assuming that the principal did something wrong, an apology may be in order, Gesmonde said.

"Between an apology and termination, I think probably listening to the parent, maybe communicating to the parent could have been clearer and that may be the basis for an apology," Gesmonde said.