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Principal of North Nicholas High terminated

By Staff

Two companies which oversee North Nicholas High School in Cape Coral reported this week that Principal Mike D’Angelo was terminated from employment at the school.
Accelerated Learning Solutions and Community Education Partners operates North Nicholas High, as well as Coronado High in Fort Myers, and other schools in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas, dismissed D’Angelo for a number of reasons.
“He was dismissed for a variety of reasons including violation of his contractual obligations, conflicts of interest and giving some students an opportunity to cheat,” said Burt Saunders, an attorney from the Naples-based firm Gray Robinson, who represents the operators.
North Nicholas High is an alternative school for students at risk of dropping out. Most of the classes are computer-based and allow students to go at their own pace. Although the school is independent of the public school system, it is chartered by the Lee County School District.
Joe Donzelli, spokesperson for the school district, said he had no information on the termination.
According to results from the 2010 FCAT exam, 35 percent of students at North Nicholas High scored on grade level with a 3 or above in mathematics, while only 10 percent scored on grade level in reading. During the 2009-2010 school year, approximately 50 students from the school took the FCAT exams.
Saunders said two experienced educators and former principals are in charge of the school this week, and school operators are considering several outstanding candidates for the position. He stressed that the termination will not impact the school’s day-to-day operations.
“None of this has any impact whatsoever on the students or faculty at North Nicholas High School,” said Saunders.
Course schedules and faculty are in place for the school year. Saunders said an investigation is also under way to determine if any other issues need to be addressed. Lee County School District officials have also been briefed on the situation.
The school operators are expecting to hire a new principal within the next 30-60 days, said Saunders.
D’Angelo couldn’t be reached for comment on Tuesday.