DATE: Tuesday, November 11, 1997            TAG: 9711110277

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   63 lines

FISCAL WHIZ OF BEACH SCHOOLS GETS GEORGIA JOB

Donald Peccia, the Beach schools budget administrator who played a key role in the district's recent financial turnaround, has been named superintendent of schools in Rockdale County, Ga.

Peccia, the Beach associate superintendent of budget and finance, was named to the post Monday evening by the Rockdale board. He was in Georgia for the announcement and will begin work there in January.

Peccia helped take the district from a $12 million deficit under a previous administration in 1994-95 to a more than $16 million surplus at the end of the last fiscal year.

He has a reputation within the school system for knowing the spending plan inside and out, down to individual line items.

``We have found the best man possible for this job. Dr. Peccia has the skills and the vision to continue moving our school system forward and develop greater opportunities for our children as we enter the new millennium,'' Bill Malarney, chairman of the Rockdale County School Board, said in a statement released by his district.

Speaking by phone from Georgia, Peccia said he was looking forward to ``new challenges and new opportunities'' but that he will leave Virginia Beach with some regret.

``It's an excellent district,'' he said of the Beach. ``You've got excellent teachers and principals and parents. It's not just the finest school district in Hampton Roads, but it's one of the finest - if not the finest - in Virginia.''

A graduate of Princess Anne High School, Peccia began teaching in the Beach in 1969 at the junior high and then high school levels. He worked his way into administration, where his posts have included director of personnel services and associate superintendent for administrative services.

District leaders praised Peccia and said they would be sorry to see him go.

``This is a huge loss for us,'' said board member Rosemary Wilson. ``Dr. Peccia has ability, history and experience that can never be duplicated.''

``I'm very happy for him. Don Peccia has done yeoman work for this division,'' said board member Daniel Arris. ``I think think it's a good testament for our division that people like Dr. (Albert) Williams and Dr. Peccia are so attractive to other districts looking for superintendent.''

Williams left the division in October to become superintendent of the Richmond schools. In all, four Cabinet-level administrators have retired or resigned in the last five months.

Some district insiders have expressed concern at the number of changes in senior administrative positions and what they describe as a lack of stability in key roles.

And Peccia's departure is seen as a particular loss, not only because he takes with him his knowledge of the division as a longtime insider, but also because he has been such a crucial player in the budget development and implementation process. The district's budget planning process is moving into full swing.

Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney said he saw no cause for concern in the turnover.

``It's a real compliment to our organization that people see the skill level of our employees and are excited about having them lead their school divisions,'' Jenney said.

Jenney plans to discuss personnel vacancies with the board at the regular meeting next Tuesday. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Donald Peccia

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu