Appointment pending final contract and vote of new school board
BY Amber Cox
FLORENCE Following a two-month search for a new superintendent, the Board of Education has recommended the current director of Special Services.
The school board Feb. 28 voted to recommend starting the contract negotiation process for Donna Ambrosius, of Mantua.
All nine voted yes, except for Richard Buck, who abstained. Superintendent Louis Talarico is retiring July 1, 2011, after serving the district for eight years. His salary is $171,542.
”This is an intent to actually negotiate,” board President Emma Cartier said.
Ms. Ambrosius was chosen as the result of an internal search. Ms. Cartier said there were a total of six applicants, two with the proper certifications.
”Currently, this is just a notice that we have picked someone from the pool of candidates that we had,” Ms. Cartier said. “We do have to negotiate the contract, and it has to go to the county superintendent.”
Formal action on the matter will not be taken until the new board is elected. Four seats need to be filled at the April election.
”I will let everyone know that the board’s counsel has advised us that the new board would actually have to make the decision as to when formal action will be taken,” Ms. Cartier said. “We understand that there is a possibility that we will have four new board members.”
Ms. Cartier said she isn’t sure what the county superintendent is going to do with the recommendation. Currently, Burlington County does not have its own superintendent, and Peggy Nicolosi, Camden County superintendent, is filling in.
Ms. Ambrosius has had more than a decade of experience in working with children. She began at Westampton Township School District in 1999 and worked as a special services teacher, child study team coordinator, learning disabilities teacher and supervisor of special services.
Resident Betsy Ryan said she was surprised to hear the board chose a candidate.
”I actually just came here tonight to inquire about the search process and how the search was going,” she said. “As a member of the community I wanted to hear about the search and how many candidates you considered and whether or not you looked out of district.”
Ms. Cartier said the board is trying to get the process moving.
”We feel that we have a strong candidate at this time,” she said.
If approved, Ms. Ambrosius would begin a three-year contract July 1.