During the meeting, not only was a new superintendent was announced, but the HEA contract that was negotiated in December was approved.
The meeting on Thursday, March 22 put an end to the lingering uncertainty after the board voted not to renew Superintendent Richard Perry’s contract last July. During the BOE meeting, not only was a new superintendent was announced, but the HEA contract that was negotiated in December was approved.
The search for a superintendent has been a journey. Last Thursday, the journey came to an end when the board unanimously voted to approve a five-year administrative contract with Dr. Lawrence Mussoline.
The board was excited to introduce Mussoline to lead the district forward.
“He has an infectious enthusiasm for education, and it was very clear to the Board of Education during our search process that Larry was the ideal candidate to address our immediate needs and bring our district forward,” board member Maureen Lynn Eyles said.
With 38 years of leadership experience, Mussoline will start as the next superintendent of schools in July, according to the board.
Mussoline was superintendent of Downingtown Area Public School District in Pennsylvania before arriving to Haddonfield.
He received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education, comprehensive social studies from Bloomsburg University, followed by his master’s degree in educational administration from Shippensburg University and his doctorate in educational administration from the Pennsylvania State University, according to a release by the board of education.
Controversy arose when the board unanimously voted to not renew Perry’s contract at a meeting held Thursday, July 14. Perry had planned to continue on as superintendent through June 30, but was unable to due to “an urgent family matter.” The board accepted his letter of intention at the Jan. 4 Board of Education meeting. Shortly after, Dr. David Lindenmuth stepped in as interim superintendent, a position he will hold until June 30.
A new superintendent was not the only announcement at Thursday’s meeting. The negotiated agreement between the Haddonfield Education Association and the Haddonfield Board of Education was also approved.
The HEA contract expired in June and since then, ongoing negotiation have taken place. The terms, which were negotiated on Dec. 19, give teachers a 3 percent pay increase for three years and are now approved.
“We have worked really hard over the last year and a half, two years really, to finalize a contract with the HEA,” Board President Adam Sangillo said. “Tonight, I am happy the board of education is going to approve and ratify the contract.”
The new agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2017.
The next board of education meeting will be held on April 26.
