Public Stadium now Angelo DiPaolo Memorial Stadium
The Gallup-McKinley County Board of Education put off to a later date the contract of Interim Superintendent Mike Hyatt so that more time can be given to work out details of the document. That was the consensus of an executive session after the Jan. 3 regular school board meeting held at school district headquarters.
Hyatt got the temporary job Dec. 19 after board members released Frank Chiapetti at a meeting in Pueblo Pintado. There were no definitive reasons given for the paid administrative leave act, Chiapetti said after the meeting. Chiapetti had worked with the Gallup-McKinley County School District for about three years and at an annual contractual salary of $132,000.
“I am still in the dark,” Chiapetti said of the outcome at the time.
Outgoing board member Joe Menini, a retired Gallup high school educator, announced to a couple dozen people in attendance at the meeting that Hyatt’s contract would not be moved on, but taken up at the Jan. 17 regular Board of Education meeting. Hyatt’s salary was not immediately available, but interim superintendent’s typically earn a little more based on the “interim” tag.
Board of Education President Priscilla Manuelito said routine personnel and legal matters were discussed during the executive session. Manuelito said some personnel matters were discussed with Hyatt as well as the evaluation of Chiapetti.
Also at the meeting, the Board of Education approved the renaming of South Grandview Drive’s Gallup Public School Stadium to Angelo DiPaolo Memorial Stadium. The name change idea was first brought up by Menini who worked alongside DiPaolo for a number of years with the Gallup school district. DiPaolo was a respected teacher, administrator, athletic director and track and field coach, school board officials have said.
“I do remember him when I ran track in high school,” board president Priscilla Manuelito said. Diane DiPaolo, the widow of Angelo, thanked the board – Menini in particular – for the stadium renaming.
“Angelo loved this school district. He loved the kids and all the people he worked with,” Diane DiPaolo told board members. “The family and I are honored and appreciate this very much.”
Menini said there is a fundraiser going on with respect to the memorial. Jvanna Hanks, the district’s financial officer, said donations can be sent to P.O. Box 1318, Gallup, N.M., 87305.
By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent
