Earling made the news official at the latest BOE meeting
Monroe Township Superintendent of Schools Charles Earling retired effective Aug. 1. Gregory Cappello will take the reins as acting superintendent until interim superintendent Richard Perry’s contract starts.
Officials at last week’s board of education meeting said Perry’s contract will start upon the completion of fingerprint approval and submission of pre-employment requirements. His contract will have a per diem rate of $650.
Officials added Cappello will be the acting superintendent for 90 days or until successful completion of fingerprinting and pre-employment forms are submitted by Perry, whichever is sooner.
Earling addressed the board and those in attendance at the meeting.
“I would like to inform the board of education in writing that I am resigning from my position as superintendent of schools for this district effective Aug 1, 2018,” he said. “It has been a privilege and an honor for me to serve as superintendent of Monroe Township public schools for the past 10 years. It’s a long time, I’ve been in public education for 48 years and it’s now time to enter another chapter of my life — like spend time with my wife, my kids and my grandchildren.
“Faculty, staff, administrators, students and parents have been wonderful to work with in these 10 years and I will always cherish the fond relationships and memories during my years of service in Monroe Township public schools. I wish the board of education and the district, everyone the best times in the future. Thank you very much.”
A doctrine of necessity was invoked at the meeting because five board members have conflicts with hiring a new superintendent. George Adams, James Henderson, Frederick Powell Jr., Joseph Rumpf Jr. and Frank Torcasio have family members who work for the school district. The doctrine of necessity prohibited those five members from voting on the separation agreement with Earling and the appointment of Cappello and Perry.
In other news:
- Cappello provided an update on the Holly Glen mold situation.
“We met with our CIH, certified industrial hygienist, and the insurance company,” he said. “We identified a plan to immediately certify the gym at Holly Glen, that it’s able to be occupied and it’s completely clean and we can go into the gym.”
Cappello said that is important because they’re having the storage room at Holly Glen certified as well, which will allow the contents to be brought down to the gym to distribute the school supplies for teachers who need them.
“The next step is that there are certain rooms that are identified as clean and cleared, those rooms are able to be brought down to the gym and those contents can be inspected by teachers to identify what it is they need to bring to their current classrooms,” he added. “We are looking to start this immediately. We’re not promising, but this is the plan and it looks like it is rolling. We have a letter from the CIH that the gym is cleared.”
The next board of education meeting is set for Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.
