Residents interested in replacing Atilio DeFalco on the board should send a letter of interest and resume to the Board of Education by Sept. 10.
By: Paul Koepp
The South Brunswick Board of Education member Atilio DeFalco plans to resign to take a position as the information technology manager of the chemistry and chemical biology department at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. His resignation is effective Aug. 31.
The school board has begun the search for a replacement, and district spokeswoman Rebecca Leonard said Wednesday that the process would conclude within 60 days.
Because Mr. DeFalco is in the last year of his three-year term, his replacement will serve until the next board election in April, when the seat will again be open.
Candidates for the position must be registered voters who have lived in South Brunswick for at least a year, and they cannot hold a contract or claim against the school district. Interested residents should send a letter of interest and resume to the Board of Education by Sept. 10.
Mr. DeFalco, who has worked in information technology for 18 years at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University, said that while his new position was "a really good opportunity," he would regret leaving South Brunswick.
"It’s sad to leave such an excellent school district," he said Monday. "Being on the board for the last three years, I’ve learned how fantastic the district is relative to others in the area."
Mr. DeFalco has lived in Kendall Park since 1994 with his wife, Janet, a lifelong township resident, and their daughter.
At the Monday meeting, board members said they were equally sad to see Mr. DeFalco go.
"We’re going to truly miss you," said Barry Nathanson, before joking that Mr. DeFalco should leave behind his trademark red Converse sneakers for the board to remember him by.
Board member Matthew Speesler cited Mr. DeFalco’s work as liaison to the N.J. School Boards Association.
"When one door closes, another opens," Dr. Speesler said. "Your legacy and work with the board will always be remembered."
Superintendent Gary McCartney said that Mr. DeFalco always tried to do right by the district’s students. "I can honestly say that in every interaction with you, your position was always whatever is best for the kids," he said.