Explorer Principal To Return Monday

Explorer K-8's principal will return to school Monday after an extended absence due to an illness that left him hospitalized.

Dominick Ferello, who served his last day Oct. 31, has been cleared by his doctor to return to his post, said Superintendent Wayne Alexander, who met with Ferello on Wednesday.

"I'm glad he's healthy and I'm glad he's ready to come back to work," Alexander said.

The circumstances surrounding Ferello's illness have been a mystery. School officials have declined to comment, citing medical privacy laws. Attempts to reach Ferello have been unsuccessful.

Ferello was admitted to Tampa General Hospital for several days last month. A reporter's call to the hospital Nov. 6 was transferred to the intensive care unit.

Alexander tapped David Schoelles, the district's curriculum specialist and a former principal, to lead Explorer during Ferello's absence.

Alexander praised Schoelles for maintaining "direction and focus" at Explorer. The 2,000-student school opened in August and is working through the inevitable bumps that come in the first year.

Joe Vitalo, president of Hernando Classroom Teachers Association, agreed.

Vitalo said teachers and staff tell him that Schoelles has addressed issues that needed tweaking such as internal scheduling, room assignments and other logistics.

"He helped the overall atmosphere of cohesiveness as the staff is still bonding together as a school," Vitalo said.

Ferello, 54, was hired in January to lead Explorer. He used paid vacation and sick time during the absence, according to the district's human resources department.

He last served as assistant principal of Sandpiper Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale.