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SOUTH BRUNSWICK: SBHS losing principal, head football coach

By Ed Birch, Special Writer
   The high school is losing its principal and head football coach.
   Timothy Matheney, who has served the district for the past eight years as the principal of South Brunswick High School has accepted the position of Director of Evaluation with the State of New Jersey Department of Education, according to officials.
   Schools superintendent Dr. Gary McCartney announced the departures during Monday night’s Board of Education meeting.
   According to Dr. McCartney, Mr. Matheney will direct the newly formed Excellent Educators for New Jersey program.
   Board members voted Monday to authorize the “loan” of Mr. Matheney’s services effective July 1.
   Dr. McCartney said the agreement with the state would not cost the district any money and that the state would pay Mr. Matheney’s $145,632 salary and benefits.
   The program is a new initiative for the Department of Education, and has operated for the past year.
   Mr. Matheney presently serves as a member of the Evaluation Pilot Advisory Committee that is designing an evaluation system that will evaluate performance of both teachers and principals in public, private and charter schools throughout the state.
   ”I am most proud to have continued to create a very positive educational environment in the high school,” Mr. Matheney said Tuesday. “We have focused on academic achievement and provided these services to our students while making our big school feel smaller to each individual student and their families.”
   Mr. Matheney stressed that he has created “a more personalized environment in a rather large campus setting” at the almost 2,000 student facility on Stouts Lane.
   Mr. Matheney said he is grateful that his legacy will include being recognized for “consistency, firmness, fairness, and making sure that all students know what is expected of them in their performance.”
   Mr. Matheney said he has accomplished these objectives at a time that the entire school district and the high school in particular have faced great economic challenges with literally dozens of positions being eliminated and or consolidated.
   Based on these program cuts, Mr. Matheney said the high school administration has created “the best quality staff and programs, while the staff is working harder than ever.”
   He feels these results are well documented by student achievements in the National Merit exams, improved SAT scores, and rankings by national publications.
   In addition, Mr. Matheney said he has implemented “a systemized approach to identifying and helping many students who had the potential for failure.”
   He also feels the highly organized guidance program has given these students extra support and many students who were identified are achieving excellent results in higher education institutions both locally and across the nation.
   In his new position, Mr. Matheney said he would bring his love for education to “create a fair system for the evaluation of both teachers, administrators, and principals.”
   He said he would oversee a staff that has already started to prepare for this “very important” initiative.
   Students reacted to the news Tuesday.
   ”I really wasn’t expecting it and I thought they would be here for a couple more years,” senior Corey Koppel said. “It’s been nice having (Mr. Matheney) for four years and its unfortunate I won’t get to see the new principal. Although I didn’t agree with all of his policies it was nice to have a principal who cared about the school.”
   During his tenure in the district, Mr. Matheney has been a staunch supporter of the students and can usually be found at the various sporting and other extracurricular activities during the year.
   Peter Varela, present Assistant Principal for Academic Leadership, will serve as Acting Principal at South Brunswick High School while the district begins to find a replacement for Mr. Matheney.
   Head Football Coach Rick Mantz also resigned that position Monday night, effective immediately.
   ”This was a personal decision that I arrived at after lengthy conversation with my family. I feel that at this time I need to take a break from coaching football,” Mr. Mantz said Tuesday. “I have neglected both my family and my health for the four seasons that I have served South Brunswick High School.”
   Mr. Mantz did not go into detail about how his health has been impacted, but said he wants to stay on in his security position at the school.
   That position pays an annual salary of $87,995 with a $9,669 stipend to coach the football team, according to the district.
   The team lost only one game last season, falling in the state semi-finals.
   Mr. Mantz said he is very proud of all his players and staff and was very grateful for the undying support that everyone in town has given to Vikings football.
   ”I would like to single out the high level of assistance that I have received from Jake Rodriguez for all of his efforts as Junior Varsity Coach and my Assistant Coach with the Varsity team,” Mr. Mantz said. “Without his untiring efforts, this program would not have been the winning program that it is today.”
   Students praised both men Tuesday.
   ”It’s really unexpected because they have both been here for so long and Mr. Mantz has been the football team coach for so many great championships,” junior Natasha Thaker said. “They will be missed.”
   Junior Jeremy Richardson said he was sad to see Mr. Matheney leave the school after contributing so much, a sentiment echoed by junior Rebekah Reyes.
   ”I feel that Mr. Matheney has done a good job with keeping the school safe,” Rebekah said. “I am excited to see how a new principal will further improve, advance, and better the school. I really think the school has an untapped potential.”