Melissa’s exultation for the possible regaining of the school leadership is contrasted with the burning disappointment of Verzino who, however, responds by submitting a warning and a request for self-defense review to the Province of Crotone. The procedure and the actions adopted with the sizing proposal approved last week by the Provincial Council are under accusation.
The Verzine municipal administration promises to fight against the hypothesis of transferring the management of the merged school to Melissa in 2024. The mayor of the center of the Cirotano hinterland, Francesco Levato, in office since 2024, tries to quell the understandable discontent in his community and makes it known that the local administration does not at all agree with the proposal of the ’27-’28 sizing plan. The decision was supported by Melissa and then endorsed by Pallagorio, Carfizzi and San Nicola dell’Alto, whose territories are included in the Institute.
«We believe the proposal – states Levato – penalizing our territory. The Municipality of Verzino respected the deadlines established by the Province, deciding as early as 16 June 2026 its desire to maintain the current structure. The Province had set 26 June 2026 as the deadline for submitting any proposed amendments, specifying that those submitted after this deadline would not be taken into consideration. Yet, after the deadline, other Municipalities presented requests for modification which were nevertheless considered in the procedure. A point on which we ask for clarity and respect for the rules.
We cannot accept that a territory that has respected the deadlines is penalized while requests submitted subsequently still enter the decision-making process.”
For Levato the flaw is not only procedural. «An institutional presence risks being taken away from Verzino; for a municipality in the mountains and in the internal area, dealing with depopulation, difficulties in connection and the progressive reduction of services – he explains -, the presence of the school management and administrative offices represents a fundamental element of proximity and protection of the community. Furthermore, Verzino has invested in its school facilities, completing important safety measures, redevelopment and adaptation of the buildings and spaces intended for management and the secretariat. We do not believe it is right that these elements should be ignored. Politics must also serve this purpose: to defend the smaller territories, especially when they risk losing services and representation.”