Toms River Regional Appoints Interim Superintendent

With less than a month before the school district's superintendent retires, Toms River's Board of Education appointed an interim replacement until a permanent leader is selected through a nationwide search. 

The board appointed outgoing Jackson Schools Superintendent Thomas Gialanella to become Toms River's interim superintendent, district spokesperson Tammi Millar said Wednesday. Current superintendent Frank Roselli announced in March that he will retire effective June 30 because of health concerns.

Gialanella has been the superintendent of the Jackson School District for 11 years and is retiring from that position on June 30.

"After 40 years in education and after serving the Jackson School District for more than a decade, I wanted to move on to another phase in my life, but I always knew I would stay connected to the realm of education somehow," Gialanella said in a statement. "Even though this opportunity to serve as interim superintendent for the Toms River Regional district came up sooner than I expected, I felt it was too perfect to pass up."

The board also appointed Dr. Marianne Gaffney as Interim Assistant Superintendent, filling a void that will be left when Joseph Pizza leaves that position on June 30. Gaffney, who once worked in Wall, most recently served Cherry Hill Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. 

"The board is confident that the appointment of Mr. Gialanella and Dr. Gaffney to the respective positions of interim superintendent and interim assistant superintendent will provide our school district with a positive and productive transition pending the selection of our new superintendent and assistant superintendent later in the calendar year," said board President Ben Giovine in a statement. 

The appointments were approved at a special board meeting Tuesday night. The positions are paid on a per diem basis, but the rates have not yet been negotiated, according to Giovine.

During his tenure in Jackson, Gialanella oversaw the opening of the district’s second high school and a new elementary school, the redistricting of attendance boundaries for those schools, the implementation of multiple technology projects geared toward advancing student achievement and multiple facility renovations to the district’s aging infrastructure, according to Millar. 

"I am very pleased that the Board of Education has chosen experienced and talented educators to lead the district as we search for a new superintendent," Roselli said in a statement. "These appointments will give the search committee the time it needs to recommend quality candidates. I can retire knowing the district is in good hands."

Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, based in Illinois, will conduct a nationwide search for Roselli's permanent replacement. The school district will pay $19,500 for the service, according to Business Administrator William Doering. Some other fees may be paid by the district, such as placing advertisements for the position. 

Roselli, 61, announced his retirement in late-March after suffering a heart attack early that month. He said that he has been "blessed" to have been an educator for the past 40 years, 32 of which were spent in Toms River. 

The district will hold two meetings this week to solicit public input as they move forward with developing a search criteria for a permanent superintendent. 

Before coming to Jackson, Gialanella served 29 years in the Brick Township School District. He started as a teacher, moved on to guidance counselor, and became superintendent there in 1994. He was also an assistant football coach for six South Jersey Group IV state championship teams and served on the Brick municipal alliance, according to Millar.

An Ocean County resident, Gialanella said that his familiarity with Toms River and previous experience running a large school district should aid in his transition. He also recognizes that this is "a very challenging time for school districts," given new standards and accountability mandates. 

"I look forward to being able to help guide the district through those challenges," he said.