Despite Procedural Concern, Interim School Administrator Contracts Approved

Toms River Board of Education members approved the contracts of the interim central administrators who are slated to work in the district from August through December, despite some public concern about the procedural aspect of the interim superintendent vote.

Thomas Gialanella was approved to a five-month interim superintendent post and will begin work in Toms River on Aug. 1, 30 days after completing his contract with Jackson. His contract, which entitles him to $650 per work day and use of a district cell phone—though no medical benefits or paid personal time off—came before the board for approval Tuesday night.

With board President Ben Giovine arriving late to the meeting, the initial vote to approve Gialanella’s contract failed, as not enough voting members were present for it to pass; Ginny Rhine and Alex Pavliv voted against it. 

When Giovine arrived about half-way through the meeting, a motion was made for another vote and Gialanella’s contract was approved 5-2.

Some members of the public were concerned with the way the second vote was handled.

“I have a problem in the legality of the vote as it was,” said resident Carol Benson. “What you did was to approve a contract for a superintendent of our schools knowing that Ben [Giovine], or a member, was going to be late.”

“I didn’t know how he was going to vote,” said board attorney Stephan Leone. “The fact of the matter is he was here and should be allow to vote.”

Leone said that to him the second vote appeared to be “perfectly legal.”

But, “it does not look good,” Benson said.

“You took a vote, and went back and re-voted on it again. I think that’s procedurally inappropriate,” resident Dennis Galante said.

Giovine apologized for being late to the meeting, saying that he was returning from work in Newark and encountered heavy traffic on his way back to Toms River for the meeting.

“I don’t want the full board to take the brunt because I was late,” he said, adding that he believed the contact would have received a majority of the votes even in his absence.

“I think my honest opinion is that I was expecting the board would approve the contracts this evening,” he said.

“I take full responsibility for coming in late,” Giovine said.

In response to a resident’s question about his “no” vote, Pavliv said that he “was voting against the person,” and not the terms of the contract. Rhine said that her opposition came for the same reason.

Board members Tom Baxter and Edward Gearity abstained from voting on all of the three contracts up for consideration Tuesday, including Gialanella’s, as they have said they want to avoid the perception of a conflict as they have family working in the district.

James Hauenstein, an assistant superintendent already employed by the district, was appointed interim superintendent for the month of July, filling the gap between Frank Roselli’s June 30 retirement and Gialanella’s start date.

Hauenstein’s one month interim contract was approved Tuesday at $100 per day worked on top of his regular salary of of $158,100. He receives no additional benefits, according to the contract.

Like Gialanella, incoming interim assistant superintendent Dr. Marianne Gaffney will assume her post beginning in August. Because of a month gap, current Interim Assistant Superintendent Joseph Pizza was approved for a one month contract extension through July.

Pizza, who came out of retirement to serve in his interim appointment, has “been a great leader” and “helped in righting our district’s ship,” Hauenstein said.

“To that, Mr. Pizza, I say thank you for coming back a second time. You are truly outstanding,” Hauenstein said to a standing ovation from board members and audience members.

Gaffney, like Pizza, will be paid $500 per work day and given use of a district cell phone. She will not be entitled to medical benefits or any paid personal time off.

All contracts were reviewed and approved by the Ocean County Superintendent.

The contracts for Hauenstein and Gaffney were approved by all voting board members. Giovine was absent for those votes, and because a majority was met without him another vote was not taken.