By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
East Brunswick Board of Education members wasted little time finding a successor for departing Superinten-dent of Schools Jamie Savedoff, as they announced their intention to appoint longtime district employee Jo Ann Magistro to the position.
Magistro, who lives in the Morganville section of Marlboro, is expected to replace Savedoff effective March 1. Her salary will be $147,000.
Magistro, who has worked for the East Brunswick School District in Middlesex County for 31 years, is currently the assistant superintendent for human resources. Before taking that position in the summer of 2000, she was the district’s assistant superintendent for student services and activities. Magistro previously served as building administrator for the elementary and secondary levels.
"We are happy to have someone with the background, experience and commitment of Dr. Magistro," Board President Michael Baker said. "East Brunswick’s schools will be in great hands."
Magistro said she is excited about the challenge of being superintendent for East Brunswick’s district of 11 schools with about 8,300 students.
"I feel it’s a wonderful opportunity and I also feel it will be very challenging," Magistro said. "I work with an outstanding group of people. As a team, we’re going to be very successful. I’m very confident that I’m going to be in a good place."
She said she has special feelings for the district where she first arrived in 1972.
"I’m very passionate about this district and this community," Magistro said.
Magistro’s husband, Hank Stankiewicz, is supervisor of technology, business and computer education for East Brunswick schools. Her children, Henry and Elizabeth Stankiewicz, attend Marlboro High School and the Marlboro Middle School, respectively.
Savedoff, who came to East Brunswick in July 2000, announced his resignation in December when he accepted the position of superintendent in Lower Merion, Pa.
Board member Charles King said he told a newspaper from Lower Merion that the suburban Philadelphia school district, which has 10 schools, is getting a good superintendent.
Board member Vicki Becker said one of Savedoff’s most important contributions was making the district an advocate for educational change on a statewide level.
"You showed us a way to do that. You will be missed," she said.
"I think board members, present and past, should be very proud of what has been accomplished in the last two years," Savedoff said, noting that the board has been unanimous in its support for the last two school budgets.
But Savedoff, who was earning a salary of $172,500 in East Brunswick this year, also warned that trouble is on the horizon if strong changes are not made. He said the district simply has many needs that have to be addressed in the budget.
"I think it’s embarrassing that we buy so many used textbooks," he said. "We have eight Blue Ribbon schools. We should not be buying used textbooks for our children."
He said the issue of having proper facilities also needs to be addressed. He noted that plumbing in all of the district’s schools needs work, as do the electrical systems.
Savedoff said the board needs "to convince the community that they need to continue to invest" in the educational system.
He told the board he is appreciative of the support the board has given him.
"You have supported 99.9 percent of the recommendations I have made. It’s been a pleasure to work with you," Savedoff said.