School Board to Vote on Interim Administrator Appointments

Interim Assistant Superintendent Joseph Pizza should be around Toms River Regional for a little while longer. 

Board of Education members are set to approve a one-month extension of his year-long contract when they meet for a regular meeting Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. in the High School North auditorium.

Pizza's contract was set to expire on June 30. The new contract runs from July 1 through July 30, at a pay rate of $500 per workday. 

Dr. Marianne Gaffney was approved as the new Interim Assistant Superintendent from Aug. 1 through Dec. 31. Gaffney, who once worked in Wall, most recently served Cherry Hill Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. 

As under his current contract, Pizza will be provided with use of a cell phone and given mileage reimbursement, though he is not eligible for health benefits or paid sick days. 

Pizza was appointed to the post last year, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of William Cardone.

Newly-appointed Interim Superintendent Thomas Gialanella, who comes from the Jackson school district, was appointed from Aug. 1 through Dec. 31. He will take over from current superintendent Frank Roselli, who is retiring effective June 30 because of health concerns. 

Another interim superintendent appointment will be made by the board through July until Gialanella takes over in August, according to board President Ben Giovine. The board is expected to discuss the appointment before voting during the Tuesday meeting. 

The appointments of Gialanella and Gaffney were approved at a special board meeting last week. The positions are paid on a per diem basis, but the rates have not yet been negotiated, Giovine has said. 

The meeting—Roselli's last as superintendent in Toms River—will also feature student and staff awards, according to the meeting agenda posted to the district website.