Twelve Faculty Members Announce Retirement

Last night, at Millburn's Board of Education meeting, 12 school faculty members announced their retirement, including the principal of Hartshorn Elementary School, Ronald Castaldo.

A presentation was given to the board recaping the time the staff members worked in the school district. Nine of the 12 retiring faculty attended the meeting.

"It was a nice opportunity to honor them," the superintendent, James Crisfield, said. "The end of their careers is a milestone."

The board also held a public hearing for the renewal of two contracts, both with two percent salary increases. 

Christine Burton was approved as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and Steven DiGeronimo as business administrator for the third year. 

The staff members retiring are:

• Ronald Castaldo as principal at Hartshorn, after 16 years in the district.
• Suzanne Belvedere who was a Hartshorn first and third elementary teacher after 17 years.
• Terry Hofflich after 19 years. Hofflich was an instructional aide and a third grade elementary teacher at Hartshorn Elementary.
• Loretta Miller with 30 years of teaching. She is retiring as a kindergarten teacher in Hartshorn Elementary. 
• Jill Canastra, as the guidance counselor, after 13 years at the middle school. 
• Dale Williams, after 17 years as a kindergarten elementary teacher at Glenwood School. 
• Roberta Lichtenberg as instructional aide and secretary to the principal after 25 years. 
• Dawn Geannette-Cordo after four years as the supervisor of special education at the middle and high school. 
• Monika Mangan after 26 years of being secretary to the principal and business administrator at Hartshorn Elementary and Educational Center
• Arlen Hutchinson who has been the secretary to assistant principal and principal at the middle, Glenwood and South Mountain schools. She worked in the district for 15 years.
• Carolyn Kennedy after 25 years as a science teacher at the middle school.
• Urszula Wojtunik-McCann as payroll coordinator in the Education Center after 10 years.

"Whenever someone retires it's important to publicly honor them," Crisfield said.

In other news, the board:

• Rejected bids for the high school's bleacher repair, which all exceeded the approved budget of the project. 
• Also rejected roof repairs for the high school because the bid exceeded the budget. 
• Approved pavement repairs and replacement at Deerfield Elementary School. The contract was awarded to D&L Paving Contractors Inc., in Nutley for $103,178.
• Approved Dyntek Services Inc., of Mount Laurel, to work on the infrastructure service and wireless access capability for $395,908.35 through the NJS contract. 
• Approved refurbishing of the high school's main gym bleachers. The contract was given to Nickerson Cooperation of Union Beach to not exceed $90,000.