BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer
ABERDEEN — The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District accepted the resignation of its business administrator and appointed an interim at the June 20 Board of Education meeting.
The board voted 7-1 to appoint Charles Shay, of Rumson, to the position. Board member Larry O’Connell was absent and Chuck Kenny abstained.
Shay will begin his responsibilities on Aug. 1, and will hold the interim position until June 30, 2006, with an annual salary of $102,000.
Shay was the school business administrator/board secretary for the Rumson School District from 1988 until his retirement in 2004. Prior to that, he was the assistant to the school business administrator and a teacher in the Rumson school district from 1986-88. For 20 years, from 1966-86, he was a teacher and an administrator in the Rumson School District, and he also worked as a teacher in the Red Bank School District for two years, from 1964-66.
Shay also served 12 years on the executive committee of the Monmouth County Association of School Business Officials, two of which he served as president.
Shay is certified as a school business administrator, a principal/supervisor, an elementary teacher, a business education teacher and as a qualified purchasing agent. He received certification in curriculum and supervision from Kean College (now Kean University), Union, and certification as a school business administrator from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business education and a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Monmouth University, West Long Branch.
Shay is replacing Laura Venter, who had held the position since November of 2002.
Kenneth Aitken and Chuck Kenny were among the board members who were concerned with appointing Shay so quickly, especially since they did not get the chance to meet him before voting.
Superintendent of Schools Bruce Quinn said that he wanted to appoint someone to the position as quickly as possible in order to obtain continuity.
“There was an emergency regarding this matter, and the emergency is that Ms. Venter is leaving us,” Quinn said. “Mr. Shay was selected because he was available and met all the criteria.”
Quinn said he is confident that Shay’s appointment will benefit the school district.