After months of searching for its next superintendent, Berlin Community School’s board of education approved a three-year contract at its June 20 meeting.
Having served as the interim assistant superintendent since March after the board voted to relieve the previous superintendent of her duties at its Feb. 21 meeting, Joseph Campisi was approved to become Berlin Community School’s next superintendent. All board members approved the decision except Jenine Del Palazzo, who abstained from the vote.
Having already been approved by the executive county superintendent, Campisi’s contract runs from July 1 to June 30, 2022, with an annual salary of $130,000 each year. Merit goals that will be established in the future by the board, Campisi and the executive county superintendent remain the only way salary can increase, according to board President Jocelyn Lewis.
Campisi expressed gratitude toward the board and public for believing he is capable of helping lead BCS.
“Over the past few months, I’ve come to realize what a special place BCS is … and I really am honored to become part of the BCS family,” said Campisi. “This is a really great school and a really great community. I’m looking forward to spending many years here, working with everybody, moving the kids forward and establishing and keeping strong relationships with different stakeholder groups.”
At the board of education community forum, held Wednesday, May 29, Campisi and two other candidates for the position answered questions from both students and community members regarding different challenges BCS faces, ranging from student character to ELA curriculum, special education and more.
After the meeting, Campisi said he is looking forward to addressing such concerns.
“Right now, I’m taking a deep dive into where we are with special education and ELA curriculum and reviewing our current curriculum and the programs we have in place,” said Campisi.
Campisi said he plans to review all curriculum and programs to ensure they are setting up BCS students for success.
“It’s going to be a systematic deep dive looking at every program, whether it be curriculum or special education, to see if it’s in the best interest of our students, and are we giving our teachers the programs and materials that they need as well,” said Campisi.
Board member Dennis Quinn, having been on the board of education for 15 years, made a statement to the community and board following Campisi’s’ contract approval, thanking the community for its input in helping build a new BCS infrastructure for the upcoming school year.
“In my 15 years, this is probably one of the most challenging years we’ve had as a board, as an administration and as a community,” said Quinn. “This was the most challenging year, but in the end it was the most rewarding year.”
According to Quinn, the board has hired an entirely new administration team, with the exception of Business Administrator Cande Kristoff, in response to the community’s concerns regarding the prior running of the school.
“Effectively, we have built a new BCS infrastructure,” said Quinn. “I was excited that we included the community and teachers in this hiring process, it was the first time that it’s ever been done here and I’m proud of that.”
Also at the meeting, the board approved the contract of Kellilyn Mawson as middle school principal for the upcoming school year. Last month, the board approved Phil Silva as elementary school principal.
For the past 11 years, Mawson served in the Black Horse Pike Regional School District working closely with special education.
The board’s next meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m.
