Board of Education president Jean Cohen read Illuzzi’s retirement notification at the Dec. 20 board meeting
Cinnaminson Township Public Schools Superintendent Salvatore Illuzzi has officially announced his retirement, effective June 30. At last week’s meeting, Board of Education President Jean Cohen read Illuzzi’s letter to the board that announced his retirement.
“There was a season to arrive, a season to stay, and now a season to depart,” Illuzzi’s letter read. “Please consider this letter to be my formal notice to the board that I will not seek renewal of my contract to serve as school district superintendent beyond the completion of the current agreement on June 30, 2017.”
Illuzzi will retire with 48 years of public school education experience and 33 years as a superintendent.
Illuzzi had originally planned to retire in 2014 but extended his contract to assist with the renovations the district needed, despite being required to take a $60,000 paycut following Gov. Christie’s superintendent salary cap.
“Cinnaminson’s success is most apparent in the achievement of our students, the quality and dedication of the district staff and the availability of materials and resources that are second to none,” Illuzzi’s letter continued.
In addition to the staff and students, Illuzzi thanked the board that hired him and all board members to follow as well as his administrative staff, among others.
“Time and time again, I have marveled at the commitment, professionalism and pride in all that the district staff does to make this possible — the many good things that are synonymous with Cinnaminson schools,” Illuzzi’s letter continued. “To some of the most wonderful young people with whom a superintendent could ever have the good fortune to have in his schools — each year was a privilege and a memory in just watching the beginning and being part of your very special time.”
Illuzzi closed the letter by saying it has been a privilege to serve as superintendent of Cinnaminson Township Public Schools.
In other news:
• The board said goodbye to board member Harry E. Shea at the meeting. Shea served on the board from 1990–2011, then returned in 2013. The Dec. 20 meeting was Shea’s last.
• Despite an outcry from current and former parents and Cinnaminson community members at the Nov. 15 board meeting in regard to Jewish holidays being removed from the district calendar this year, the board opted not to reinstate the holidays into the calendar for the 2017–2018 school year.
• Cinnaminson School Resource Officer Michael Czarzasty formally introduced the district’s new safety procedure — A.L.I.C.E. A letter was sent home to parents last month detailing the initiative.
A.L.I.C.E. stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.
The first step is to get the word out clearly and concisely by saying things such as, “An armed intruder is in the building.”
The lockdown step involves locking down students in a secure area and barricading the doors. The inform step aims to communicate to keep the shooter off balance and allow for good decision-making. Countering is applying skills to direct, confuse and gain control. The district plans to go as far as attempting to announce where the intruder is over the PA system in the school.
The final step, evacuate, is meant to reduce the number of potential targets for the shooter and thus reduce injuries and fatalities.
The district is not asking students or teachers to make any attempt to subdue an armed gunman outside of their secure area. However, the district is providing the knowledge and training that if faced with a life-or-death situation, students and teachers will be able to increase their chance of survival.
“We do have children in the school district, so therefore we would not feel comfortable putting this in place if we didn’t think it was a good idea,” Czarzasty said of he and his fellow officers. “It’s a good program. I feel very strongly about it.”
• The Cinnaminson Township Public Schools reorganization meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Cinnaminson Middle School.
