Longtime administrator
appointed by board
HAMMONTON—At the November 3 meeting of the Hammonton Board of Education, Curriculum Committee chair Linda Byrnes announced that Hammonton High School Assistant Principal Dr. Kimberly Rudnesky will be replacing Dr. Michael Nolan—who is resigning as of December 31 to become the superintendent for Waterford Twp.—as the principal of Hammonton Middle School.
“I’d like to wish her a lot of luck, and I think it’s a great move to have a woman in charge,” Byrnes said.
Later in the meeting, Board President Sam Mento III said that Rudnesky’s experience with incoming students at the high school will be invaluable at the middle school.
“She can now take that experience and knowledge to the middle school and address what she thinks are maybe some strong points and some weaker points that we have at the middle school to parallel our students that are coming into the high school,” Mento said.
During her report, Superintendent of Schools Robin Chieco offered her congratulations for Rudnesky.
“I look forward to working with her to continue the strong programs and traditions at Hammonton Middle School, and to support her as she leads into the future. The sky’s the limit,” Chieco said.
Chieco also gave well-wishes to Nolan.
“He always put Hammonton Middle School first, and was dedicated to making the students and staff feel like a part of the family. Personally, he worked collaboratively with supervisors and administrators to enhance academics and increase opportunities at Hammonton Middle School. Although he will be missed, I wish him all the best in his new position,” Chieco said.
Mento said that he believed that Nolan’s new position will be a benefit to both Waterford Twp. and Hammonton, as he is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of students entering the middle school.
“Not only does he bring that knowledge and experience from the middle school directly to that district, he also now has that ability to really have that district parallel exactly what we’re doing over here in the elementary grades. I think it’s going to be really terrific moving forward now that we have both of our sending districts—both Hammonton and the Waterford School—doing almost the identical type of elementary work so the kids come in on the same level,” Mento said.
Mento also spoke about Wally, the therapy dog at the middle school, who lives with Nolan. Mento said that several middle school teachers who live near Nolan will be bringing Wally to the school.
“Obviously, this is his dog. This is his pet. They share a bed at night, so there was no expectation that the dog would be left behind. It’s Dr. Nolan’s dog, but—at the same time—it has been acclimated and trained to work at our middle school, and we’ll continue to have that dog there,” Mento said.
In other business, the board notably resolved to:
• Ratify the purchase order lists for September and October 2022 in the amount of $2,126,734.03.
• Approve the bill list for November 2022 in the amount of $1,326,068.83.
• Ratify the check lists for September and October 2022 in the amount of $446,874.70.
• Ratify the October 2022 payroll in the amount of $3,722,240.45.
• Approve a Capital Reserve withdrawal for renovation of tennis courts: 10-307 Capital Reserve Withdrawal ($251,395) l 2-000-400-450 Construction Services $251,295
• Approve the three-year Comprehensive Maintenance Plan 2022-2023 through 2023-2024.
• Approve a contract with Realtime Information Technology, Inc. for Staff Evaluation
management tool and training and for 2022-2023 in the amount of $2,372.37. For school year 2023-2024 Staff Evaluation management tool and Student Growth Objectives in the amount of $14,119.85 based on lowest quote.
• Approve a contract with Broad USA Inc. for the Fall/Winter changeover for the High School Chiller in the amount of $10,200 based on lowest quote.
• Approve to purchase textbooks from Carnegie Learning for the High School German courses in the amount of $16,787.95 based on lowest quote.
• Ratify the purchase of Ice Cream from Hershey’s Ice Cream for the 2022-2023 school year based on lowest quote.
• Ratify purchases from Deluxe Italian Bakery for the 2022-2023 school year based on lowest quote.
• Approve the purchase of groceries/provisions/delivered processed commodities with US Foods through the Garden State Coop for the 2022-2023 school year.
• Approve a contract with ABA Behavior Services for special education services as needed for the 2022-2023 school year.
• Approve to dispose of various soccer uniforms that are unusable and in poor condition located in the Middle School.
• Approve to dispose of a shredder that cannot be fixed located in the Middle School.
• Approve the termination of Hilda Olmos, early childhood center personal care aide, due to abandonment of job effective November 1.
• Approve a letter of resignation from Sharon Snow, early childhood center part-time cafeteria/recess aide, effective November 29.
• Approve an unpaid leave of absence for Aleta O’Shea, district bus driver, from October 21 to November 6.
• Approve a letter of resignation from Michael Nolan, middle school principal, effective December 31.
• Approve the following personnel as a district translator for the 2022-2023 school year: Ingrid Chaney, Factima De La Mota and Esmirna Santiago
• Approve the revised salaries for the 2022-2023 school year to be charged to the ESEA FY23, ESEA FY 22, ESSERII and Mental Health Grants; these are not salary increases, merely salary amounts that are being charged to the aforementioned grants.
• Approve Richard Cote as Special Assistant to the Business Administrator for Administration of winter renovation and upgrade district projects at a stipend of $7,170.
• Approve the buyback of vacation carry-over days for the following personnel: Sharon Murray, 7; Frank Lasasso, 6.5; Toni Mazza, 12.
• Approve a salary adjustment for the following personnel effective November 4: Marianyeliz Rivera, from Step 1 Non Degree—$21,096 to Step 1 Degree—$23,563
• Approve the following personnel as high school winter workers for the 2022-2023 school year at a rate of $50/game and $75 per game for additional time and/or technical skills: Teachers—Lauren Frazier, Rebecca Gillis, Joseph Ayers, Mitch Morrell, Heather Flaim, Melissa Durham, Matias Spahn, Brian Reed, Kaela Melchiorre, Toe Thompson, Carly Sidone, Rebecca Thompson, Rosie Staas, Greg Capaccio and Jessica Sacco. Staff—Valerie Schirmer, Marchell Conway, Danielle Thornewell, Joe Franchina, Jennifer Palmieri, Jim Eccles, Don Midure, Amanda Eccles, Elba Ortiz, Carrie Boyle, Linda Scola, Donna Davison and Carol Galeone.
• Approve Ian McCarthy as a high school basketball volunteer coach for the 2022-2023 school year.
• Approve the following personnel for the high school extracurricular stipends for the 2022-2023 school year: Tim White, Leo Club Advisor, $2,185; Meyde Mendoza, World Language Club Advisor, $1,605.
• Approve the following personnel pending receipt of all necessary paperwork (current substitute pay schedule approved by the Board January 20, 2022: Regular County Substitute Certificate—$125 per day, Regular Standard State Teaching Certificate—$150 per day; substitute nurse pay schedule approved by the Board October 14, 2021: School Nurse—$225 per day):
— Kimberly Rudnesky, middle school (replacement M.N.) principal effective January 1, 2023
— Doris Sciaretta, elementary school part-time bilingual aide
— Shaniqua Gillespie, elementary school (replacement S.S.) part-time instructional aide
effective November 16
— Mary Ann Ford, early childhood center (replacement S.S.) part-time cafeteria/playground aide
Substitute teacher(s) who have a New Jersey substitute certificate: Lindsay Sacco, Becky Fishman, Jacqueline Ford and Nina Carey
Substitute teacher(s) who is applying for a New Jersey substitute certificate: Jenna Mascola, Abigail Flemming, Kenneth Harrison and Paul Sorrentino
Substitute custodian(s)—$15/hr: Karen Maynes
• Approve the resolution and submission for the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) for the 2022-2023 school year.
• Affirm the Superintendent’s HIB recommendation as discussed at the prior month’s meeting.
• Approve a trip for the high school varsity boys’ baseball team to Florida on March 22 to March 26, 2022.
• Approve the 2nd reading and adoption of the following policies: P 2425 Emergency Virtual or Remote Instruction Program (M) Revised; R 2425 Emergency Virtual or Remote Instruction Program (M) New; P 5512 Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying (M) Revised
• Approve the following revised policy for 1st reading: P 7435 Alcoholic Beverages on School Premises
• Approve a request from Roadrunners Basketball to waive the use of facilities and custodial fees for the use of the elementary school and to waive the use of facilities fees for the use of the middle school. They will be responsible for the custodial fees for the middle school.
• Ratify the following Use of Facilities Requests, which were approved subject to receipt of all necessary documentation and reviewed by the Risk Management Consultant, who has approved all Certificates of Insurance unless noted otherwise:
• ECEC/Elementary School
— 1. WES Fields: WES Renaissance, Gina Silipena, Fall Festival, November 1; 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
— 2. Gym: Roadrunners Basketball, Steve Salvo, Clinic, Friday, November 4, 2022 to March 31, 2023; 5:50 p.m. to 7:35 p.m.
• Middle School
1. Library
A. Middle School Student Council, Sarah Zimmerman, Meeting, October 19 and 26 and November 2, 16 and 30; 2:20 to 3:20 p.m.
B. Roadrunners Basketball, Steve Salvo, Clinic, Sunday, November 6, 2022 to March 26, 2023; 11:50 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.
• High School
— 1. Library
— A. High School Esports/Video Game Club, Ryan Entress, Meeting, October 18; 2:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.
— B. ELL Screening, Mimi Mendoza, Test, Thursday, October 20; 7:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
— C. Europe Trip, David Majofsky, Meeting, Thursday, October 27 and November 17; 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• 2. Cafeteria
— A. High School Winter Cheer, Kelsey Foster, Tryouts, November 21 and 22, 2:10 p.m. to 4 p.m.; November 23, 12:10 p.m. to 2 p.m.
— B. High School Winter Cheer, Kelsey Foster, Meeting, November 15; 2:10 p.m. to 3 p.m.
— C. High School Girls’ Tennis, Heather Flaim, Banquet, October 26; 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• 3. PAC/Classroom: Paul Morris Dancexplosion, Patrick Azzara, Show, December 18; 9 a.m. to 5:05 p.m.
• 4. PAC
— A. NJDEP, Kelly Guire, Ocean Wind 1 Permit Application Public Hearing, December 15; 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
B. Middle School, Alix Macri, Winter Concert, December 14; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
C. High School Safe Driver’s Club, Mitchell Morrell, Guest Speaker, November 28; 7:05 a.m. to 8:40 a.m.
• 5. Fields
— A. Hammonton Hawks, Clark Hovermale, All Star Game, November 20; l p.m. to 4 p.m.
— B. Hammonton Stick Chicks, Patricia Donio, Field Hockey, October 15; 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• 6. Classrooms
— A. High School Diversity Club, Audrey Griess, Celebrate Mindfulness and Diversity Meeting, Wednesday, November 30, 2022 to March 15, 2023; 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
— B. High School Culinary Club, Lou Caruso, Meeting, October 25; 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
— C. High School Mock Trial, Carolyn Edwards, Practice, Wednesday, November 2 to November 30; 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• 7. Field/Classroom
— A. High School Band, Tim White, Band Night, October 14, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; October 15, 9:45 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m.; October 16, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; October 26, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
— B. High School Band, Tim White, Championship Rehearsal/Trip, Load Buses, October 29, 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; October 30, 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.
• 8. Gym: Hammonton Wrestling Club, Victor Walters, Practice, Monday to Friday, November 28, 2023 to March 10, 2023; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Approve to award a contract to CDW-G, LLC for the purchase of GoGuardian Suite in the amount of $33,678.51 based on ESCNJ/AEPA-22G cooperative pricing
• Approve the following STEM and ELA Academy salaries to be paid from the Learning Acceleration Grant for the 2022-2023 school year: Krista Leach, $1,689, STEM Learning; Tara Merlino, $1,689, STEM Learning; Cynthia Rongone, $1,689, STEM Academy; Christine Reichert, $1,689, STEM Academy; Kristen Silvesti, $1,689, STEM Academy; Matthew Arena, $1,689, STEM Academy; Adrienne Weiss, $1,689, STEM Academy; Katherine Lutz, $1,689, STEM Academy; Dawn Palermo, $1,689, STEM Academy; Deana Catania, $1,689, STEM Academy; Megan Goblirsch, $1,689, Building Robotics (STEM); Christina Vassallo, $1,689, Math Academy (STEM); Geoffrey Gollihur, $1,689, Fantasy Football (STEM); Susan Perna, $1,689, Forensics (STEM); Megan Goblirsch, $1,689, Building Robotics (STEM); Susan Perna, $1,689, Sustainable Earth (STEM); Jeff Barbagallo, $1,689, E-Sports (STEM); Karelle Pierre-Jacques, $482.50, Kindle (ELA)—only a portion of the stipend is being charged to the grant; Alyssa Walsh, $1,689, Journalism (ELA); Kristina Gazzara, $1,689, Science League (STEM); Ryan Entress, $494, E-Sports (STEM)—only a portion of the stipend is being charged to the grant.
Before the conclusion of the meeting, Hammonton resident Peter Puentes addressed the board during the second public comment portion.
“Laws should be used to benefit all of the students, good people should never be afraid to do what’s right, and third, just imagine these were your children,” Fuentes said.
The next board meeting is scheduled for December 8 at 7 p.m. in the Samuel A. Donio Memorial Library at Hammonton High School.