MONROE – As of July 1, Dori L. Alvich became the first female superintendent in the history of the Monroe Township School District.
Board of Education President Kathy Kolupanowich explained that the board conducted an in-house superintendent search. She said the majority of the board voted for the in-house search; however, she did not disclose how many candidates applied or were interviewed.
After a closed session at a special meeting on June 11, the board appointed Alvich, who previously served as assistant superintendent, with a 7-3 vote as the next superintendent.
Board members Kolupanowich, Jill DeMaio, Patricia Lang, Andy Paluri, Rupa Siegel, Steven Riback and Paul Rutsky, who is Jamesburg representative on the board, voted “yes” for Alvich, and board members Michele Arminio, Ken Chiarella and Peter Tufano voted “no” for her appointment.
At a previous meeting, Arminio had asked the board consider a broader search opening up the search to candidates outside the district.
Alvich will serve as superintendent through June 2022 with a starting annual salary of $187,405 for the 2019-20 school year; for the school year 2020-21, Alvich’s annual salary will increase to $191,153, and for 2021-22, her salary will increase to $195,454.
Alvich thanked the board for having faith in her abilities to serve as superintendent.
“I look forward to continuing all the work that we’ve done for the last five years,” she said.
Business Administrator/Board Secretary Michael C. Gorski said on behalf of the administration, he welcomed Alvich in her new role.
“She is an incredible educational leader and I can attest to that working with her over the past few years,” he said. “It’s an inspiration to all of us. She is the first female superintendent in this district’s history.”
Gorski noted the business office has a framed teacher’s contract more than 100 years old, which had all female staff members.
Kolupanowich said she looks forward to working with Alvich in her new role. Paluri congratulated Alvich and said all the candidates for the position did really well. He also thanked Robert Goodall, who has served as acting superintendent for the past year.
“He stepped up to the plate in the time of crisis and did a fantastic job,” he said, adding Goodall made solid efforts with the recent referendum.
Alvich’s appointment comes on the heels of the two failed school referendums for a much needed middle school and expansion of high school and dissension after former Schools Superintendent Michael Kozak’s contract was not renewed in June 2018.