Two longtime administrators resign as of Feb. 1
By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Hillsborough schools have begun rebuilding the special services department leadership, at least temporarily, by replacing two of the three top administrators who had their retirements approved Nov. 18.
Donna Landon was appointed acting director of special services at the Board of Education meeting on Jan. 6. She’ll replace Leonore Johnston, who is resigning effective Feb. 1. Ms. Johnston has worked in Hillsborough since September 1981.
Ms. Landon will have the top job through June 30. She will be paid a stipend of $104.13 per day beyond her current salary of $109,752 as the current supervisor of special services in grades K-6.
Dr. Eloise Stewart was newly hired as supervisor of special services for the middle and high schools, replacing Christine Petruzzelli, who will retire as of Feb. 1. Ms. Petruzzelli has worked for the school district from September 1988.
Dr. Stewart will begin work March 10 through June 30 at an annual salary of $99,000. She is an English teacher and chairperson of the curriculum steering committee at Randolph High School in Morris County.
Hal Blackstone was voted Jan. 6 to replace Ms. Landon as interim supervisor of special services in K-6, effective Feb. 1 through June 30. He’ll be paid a salary of $348.97 per day. He recently substituted for two weeks as Amsterdam School principal and has worked in a temporary principal’s spot at the Woods Road School.
With the two retirements, about 58 years of combined experience is leaving in the department that works with the school psychologists, social workers and learning consultants. The department deals with the estimated 13 percent of the district’s students who are educationally classified in need of some special service.
That work including staff and resources accounts for perhaps a quarter of the school district’s more than $100 million annual budget, said Business Administrator Aiman Mahmoud.