District names interim leader

By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
   BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — The Bordentown Regional School District will be starting off the year on Jan. 2 with a new interim superintendent.
   Diane DeGiacomo has been hired by the Board of Education to replace the superintendent, Albert Monillas, who resigned after less than two months on the job to take a job in another district. The school board met with Ms. DeGiacomo at the Dec. 5 school board meeting and made the decision shortly afterward.
   Ms. DeGiacomo, who is coming out of retirement to take the Bordentown post, has nearly 16 years of experience as a superintendent in several school districts in Burlington County. She had been superintendent in Florence Township School District, Tabernacle School District, served as the Burlington County superintendent of schools and most recently was superintendent of Buena Regional School District in Atlantic County.
   Ms. DeGiacomo will serve as Bordentown superintendent until the board finds a permanent replacement.
   The departing superintedent, Dr. Monillas, replaced John Polomano, who retired at the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year. Dr. Monillas submitted his official letter of resignation at the Oct. 17 school board meeting less than two months after assuming the superintendent’s position at the beginning of the school year.
   Dr. Monillas earned $143,000 a year. He is leaving to become superintendent for the Camden County Vocational School District.
   School board President Jack Gabauer said Ms. DeGiacomo has a friendly, energetic nature, and although she is retired she has not been out of the academics loop for long.
   Mr. Gabauer said that Ms. DeGiacomo cannot take the job as the permanent superintendent due to stipulations of her retirement. The salary is still in negotiation, Mr. Gabauer.
   ”She will be helping us out with our search for our next permanent candidate,” said Mr. Gabauer.
   He said the board hopes to have the position filled in time for the start of the 2008-09 school year.