Haddonfield native and board of education Vice President Maureen Eyles has resigned her seat, effective immediately. The announcement was made at the board’s monthly public session on Sept. 26.
Eyles, who was initially elected to the board in January 2013, was sworn in as VP back in January, when Adam Sangillo was elevated to board president. An alumna of Haddonfield Memorial High School and Villanova University, she also worked actively with the Haddonfield Alumni Society, the Haddonfield Educational Trust and other key institutions.
“The board, the school district and indeed the entire community wish Maureen well in her next venture,” said Sangillo in a statement. “She was deeply motivated by a desire to give back to her community, and we will miss her calm presence and positive attitude.”
Recently, Eyles was directly involved with campus beautification efforts, including oversight on the new B-wing overhaul at the high school – complete with new cafeteria, courtyard, dance studio and athletic offices – which was officially dedicated in May. She will step aside to make necessary preparations for her oldest child to enter college.
“I’ll miss everybody, too. This has been a labor of love for sure. And it’s a great opportunity for me and my family, as we start to prepare for our oldest to head towards college,” Eyles said at the meeting. “I will miss my work here with all of you. It’s been a fantastic, mind-opening and heart-opening experience in service. I trust you all to keep up the good work.”
According to a release by the Haddonfield School District, the opening will be listed from Friday, Sept. 27 until Friday, Oct. 11. Members of the board will begin to interview candidates Thursday, Oct. 17.
Applicants should send a resume and a letter of interest to Board Secretary Michael Catalano, at mcatalano@haddonfield.k12.nj.us or One Lincoln Avenue, Haddonfield, N.J. 08033.
The end of 2019 could see more upheaval on the board. Members David Siedell and Jaime Auletto Grookett are up for re-election, and the seat occupied by Matthew Ritter will be also be contested as he has not chosen to run again.
In response to the rising dangers of vaping in the teenage population, the board additionally announced plans to install eight vape-detection devices, predominantly around the high school, to promote the health, safety and welfare of students.
“We’ve been hearing such terrible news about this new vice. More and more youngsters are dying, they’re not getting sick but dying by using these vape pens. We looked at it last year and it looked like it was tobacco and now it has to be looked like there’s no way we can allow our students (to vape),” said Superintendent Larry Mussoline.
“It will look like a smoke detector and it picks up the vaping and it will alert the principal in this particular area, we have vape smoke or that kind of activity. The principal will be able to go there and under New Jersey (statues for) search and seizure, we can say we have reasonable suspicion based on the new detection device and we can do a search.”
The board later voted to purchase those devices for use in district schools at a cost of $14,687.14.
In other news:
- The board submitted unanimous retroactive approval of the 2018-19 contract for Brian Falkowski as district business administrator, effective May 15 through June 30, 2019, for the per diem rate of $600 per day as approved by the Camden County Business Administrator. It also approved Falkowski’s contract for the 2019-20 academic year – effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 – for the per diem rate of $600 per day as approved by the same.
- A donation from Central Elementary Parent-Teacher Association in the amount of $14,188.50 was accepted by the board for the purchase of 30 iPads.
- HMHS English teacher Kimberly Dickstein was commended by the board for winning Camden County Teacher of the Year for 2018-19. A finalist for New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, Dickstein is expected to know if she bested the rest of the field by Oct. 2.
- Haddonfield Memorial High School Athletic Director Lefty Banos was on hand to host dozens of Bulldawg athletes for the presentation of the ShopRite Cup for the 2018-19 season, the 16th consecutive year the school has won the Group 2 title.
