SAYREVILLE — The Board of Education narrowly voted to hire former Assistant Superintendent Carla Sutherland to serve as a substitute principal for Sayreville War Memorial High School.
Approved by a vote of 5-4, Sutherland will fill the position left vacant by James Brown, who is on temporary medical leave until the end of May. Sutherland retired last summer after nearly 40 years in the school district.
The board will pay Sutherland $500 per day for her services, which, according to board President Phyllis Batko, will equate to $10,000 a month. The four dissenting board members — Batko, Daniel Balka, Thomas Biesiada and Mike Macagnone — said the hiring, which was recommended by Superintendent of Schools Frank Alfano, was a fiscally irresponsible move.
“At this time, the high school currently has two vice principals and one administrative assistant, a part-time dean of discipline and a part-time attendance officer,” Batko said. “One of the vice principals should have been temporarily assigned to step up to the plate and assume the daily responsibilities of the high school principal until he returns.”
Batko said there are also seven additional supervisory personnel in the building, and two of them are former teachers and vice principals.
However, board member Kevin Ciak, who voted to hire Sutherland, said it would be an assumption to believe that an existing vice principal was willing and able to take on Brown’s post. The high school’s two vice principals boast only a year and half of experience between them, with Shawn Currie serving for 15 months and Richard Gluchowski for three months. Ciak said the district is still saving money, since the school’s third vice principal, Michael Leonardo, recently retired and was not replaced.
“[Currie and Gluchowski] are new to administration,” Ciak said. “Running a high school is not like running an elementary school. It’s not only about maintaining the building, but moving it forward for the next four months.”
Board member Jill Trapp said she believes Sutherland can do just that because of her deep knowledge of the district. She also said Sutherland comes at a bargain, since hiring someone new could have cost up to $650 a day .
“Now we don’t have to bring someone in and teach them about the district,” Trapp said. “She’s passionate, and we know she has the best interests of all of the students in her heart.”
Biesiada said he does not believe that a lack of experience should keep the current vice principals from assuming Brown’s duties.
“In the private sector or the military, when you’re told to move into a position, you do it … no questions asked,” he said. “You should fill voidswith the staffing you have at no cost to taxpayers.”
Biesiada said he would rather have seen the money that will be used to compensate Sutherland instead be set aside for new books, computers or other technology for the students.
“Anyone who says they made this decision for the sake of the kids is kidding themselves,” Batko said. “This decision will take approximately $30,000 to $40,000 from the students.”
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 7.
Contact Deanna McLafferty at [email protected].