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TMCNet: Granto answers some of the big questions at the close of his Falls career

[December 21, 2008]

Granto answers some of the big questions at the close of his Falls career

(Buffalo News, The (NY) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Dec. 21--NIAGARA FALLS -- Carmen

A. Granto sat down for a wide-ranging interview earlier this month that touched on various aspects of his 42 years of service to the city school district, his last 16 as superintendent. Here are excerpts.

Are you retiring because of the state audit that was very critical of the district?

It had nothing to do with this. I didn't do anything wrong. I let the board know that three years ago I was not renewing my contract next year. I told them last summer I was leaving. If I'd had my druthers, I'd rather have stayed on until June 30, but I've got some business offerings outside the district that I've been putting off, and I've been finally told by the investors either make the move in January or we won't invest that much money and you'll be part time with us. So it's not fair to the district for me to stay, or to my investors.

You say you believe you have six relatives on the district payroll, including your sister?

[Deputy Superintendent] Cynthia [A. Bianco] started working here before I did. I have a daughter who works here. She started before I was superintendent. I have a daughter- in-law who got married to my son. She's a coach. Cynthia's daughter-in-law is an assistant principal at Niagara Street School. I have a couple of distant cousins with the Granto name who I believe have wives who work here. But aside from aside from a wake or a wedding, I never see them. I think that's probably all. In Niagara Falls it's pretty tough not to be related to somebody.

Is Marc Laurrie, principal on special assignment [and potential candidate to replace Granto permanently] your godson?

What do you think this is, a movie? I'm not the Godfather.

Do you think the district's residency rule [requiring employees to live in the city] should be discontinued? Does it allow you to control who you hire and provide jobs to your family and friends and board members?

No. We have it to keep people with college educations in town and provide our kids with role models they can see. It's good for the community to have a mix of people, and they represent most of the young professional's who live in the city. We never have teacher shortages because of it. We hire good teachers form all over, and they have a year to move into the city after they are hired.

I decided to have a residency rule in 1994 when I read census information and found that we had fewer college graduates in Niagara Falls than they have in the East Side of Buffalo. That's a whole layer of people you need to make a good mix in any community, and that was almost totally gone from here. Less than 6 percent of our population at the time fell into that category. Also, a realtor told me that 80 percent of the homes switched or bought in the city were by employees of the Board of Education, and we need them for our kids to see around their neighborhoods.

That's why we have a good minority representation among our employees -- not just to make us meet some quota or make us look good -- it's because we want our disadvantaged kids to see that and say, 'If she or he can do it why can't I?.' If they don't see that, they won't know its possible for them. And people like that tend to run for office and are active, so they are role models for our kids.

Are you the most powerful person in Niagara Falls?

I don't think anyone is. I have too much respect for people to boss anyone around. I don't tell anyone what to do. I give people like board members options to look at, but they decide what they'll do. It's so far from me. I go home at night and mind my own business. So don't confuse leadership with power. They are two different things. What I've done is for the community, the school district and what's most important for the kids -- I would hope . . .

People say, 'Well you never have a resolution fail.' Well I don't offer things that aren't going to pass. And we've discussed issues four of five time before we present it at a board meeting for a vote. Why would I submit a resolution that's not going to pass. What's the sense of that?

Do you plan to get involved in politics after you leave office?

No. If I was younger and had the energy, I might. I'm 66. My name is not John McCain. As far as I can see, it takes a different kind of person to run for elected office. It's not me. I don't see it.

Do you plan to leave Niagara Falls and live somewhere else?

No. Niagara Falls is my home. I still plan to do a lot of traveling with my wife and for my consulting business. My wife and I like to travel.

Do you plan to sit in as an interim superintendent anywhere if one is needed at a different school district?

No.

pwestmoore@buffnews.com

To see more of The Buffalo News, N.Y., or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.buffalonews.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Buffalo News, N.Y.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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