By John Tredrea, Special Writer
A new principal for Bear Tavern Elementary School for the 2015-16 year was hired by the Hopewell Valley Board of Education on Monday night.
He is Christopher Turnbull, whose annual salary will be $132,000. He replaces Bruce Arcurio, who has resigned, effective July 1.
Also hired by the board for 2015-16 was a new director of facilities, Thomas Quinn, whose annual salary will be $115,000. He replaces Norman Torkelson, who retired.
Of Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Quinn, Superintendent Thomas Smith said, “We have two great people joining our team, in important positions.”
Mr. Turnbull comes to the Hopewell Valley district from the nearby Lawrence Township district where he was the principal of two schools.
From 2010 through this school year, he was principal of Ben Franklin Elementary School in the Lawrence district. From 2008 to 2010, he was principal of the Intermediate Lower School. From 2007 to 2008, he was supervisor of Humanities for the Lawrence district. He also was coach of boys and girls swimming at Lawrence High School.
Before becoming a principal, Mr. Turnbull was a teacher in Lawrence. He taught seventh-grade social studies from 2003 to 2007 and was a fifth-grade teacher from 2000 to 2003.
He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both from The College of New Jersey.
In other personnel actions, the board accepted the retirements of two veteran employees, both effective July 1.
They are Eileen Sweeney, a teacher at Hopewell Elementary School, who has been with the district since 1975, and Lloyd Martin, the head custodian at Stony Brook Elementary, who has been with the district since 1991.
Noting Ms. Sweeney has been with the district 40 years, Superintendent Smith said she “has had a tremendous impact on the district. She’s a very special person.”
Dr. Smith added the district will be “refreshing its website over the summer to make it more user friendly.”
