Fencers and Parents Plea for BHS Coach's Reappointment

No one disputed on Wednesday night that Vincent Paragano is an inspiring and talented fencing coach whom his supporters say goes well beyond the extra mile for his team members and other young fencers in the school district. 

"I think he's the best coach I have ever had," Bernards High fencer Jenna Barton said at the Somerset Hills Board of Education meeting,

Paragano had left a previous position as a fencing coach at Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights, where he said he started the fencing program that later achieved three state championships, to return to coach fencing in his hometown's school. Under his guidance, the varsity girls fencing team had an undefeated record in regular season this past winter.

"I can't tell you how much I learned in the past season," Barton said, as one of two sophomores to speak up on Paragano's behalf, although other students were in the audience. "If you tried your hardest, and did your best, that was as good as winning," she added.

Other parents and adults involved with the school's fencing program described how Paragano, a Bernardsville resident, helped nurture the skills of a student sidelined by a foot injury, gave an inspiring speech to the girls fencers even after they suffered their first loss post-season, and volunteered countless hours to a thriving fencing program at Bernardsville Middle School.

But Paragano also has been disbarred as a lawyer.

No decision on Wednesday night

The school board did not make a decision last night whether to appoint Paragano, who is not a staff member in the school district, to remain as the high school's head varsity fencing coach.

"I do need to do some soul searching," said board President Donna Coons. "I am not convinced one way or another."

In a life completely separate from fencing, Paragano said after the discussion before the school board that he had been involved in a "business dispute" about 10 years ago that resulted in him being disbarred to practice as an attorney.

A March 31 report in The Star-Ledger said the New Jersey Review Board, siding with three members of a Disciplinary Review Board, had disbarred Paragano from practicing law in the state, effective immediately. The report said that Paragano refused to replace a partner's misplaced $9,358 check in a settlement of a partnership deal.

But the report also referred to an earlier 1999 suspension after Paragano supposedly made false entries into his law firm's record books to conceal his personal use of more than $16,000 and another reprimand regarding the execution of a supposedly sworn affidavit.

Another website, caselaw.findlaw.com, said that Paragano had been suspended from his membership in Bar of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals as a result of supposedly writing numerous checks from his law firm's business account for personal expenses, without his partner's authorization.

"I screwed up. I messed up," Paragano told the school board after several people had spoken in his support.

He added he had screwed up about a dozen years ago, "and there were consequences."

But Paragano also said he had learned something from what he said was a "life-changing" time.

"This program means a lot to me," he said after the board's discussion. He said he "jumped" when the head varsity fencing position came open at Bernards High this year.

As assistant coach, Paragano said he started the school's fencing program back in 2001-03, before heading to Governor Livingston High School from 2004-2012.

He said he has been told he is welcome to return to Governor Livingston, and he also is poised to get his fourth coach of the year award from the New Jersey Interscholastic Fencing Association.

Ed Coury, who runs the middle school fencing program as well as serving on the board of the high school program, said Paragano had also devoted free hours to the fencing program at BMS. Coury said that Paragano showed a sense of caring for the children of Bernardsville that went well beyond the expertise provided by other, paid coaches in the middle school program. Coury added that the middle school program relies on Paragano's volunteer coaching.

John Barton, who said he himself works on Wall Street, and, "I care about ethics." He said he had watched Paragano closely this season, and was impressed.

As for Paragano, he spoke with enthusiasm when he said he already knows the young fencers who are expected to be joining the high school fencing program as ninth graders next year.

The school board started the meeting by saying that 98 stipend employees had received "Rice" notices that the terms of their employment might be discussed in closed session. Paragano said he had told the fencing board that he had received a Rice notice that his employment was being discussed, and that the parents and students had showed up of their own accord.

After the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Barbara Walls said the board will continue to discuss coaching appointments at the next scheduled meeting on May 8, and at June's meeting. She said she doesn't know at which of those meetings, the board will make a decision regarding coaches for winter sports, including fencing.

Board Member Deborah Hawkins told the public that the school board is not responsible for evaluating coaches, but votes on recommendations presented to members.