JACKSON – Although Superintendent Nicole Pormilli’s contract was extended last fall, Board of Education President Giuseppe Palmeri defended its extension during the most recent Board meeting.
Palmeri said, “I want to address something publicly that was brought up to several Board members a couple of weeks ago and the question was, why did we reopen Miss Pormilli’s contract when she still had three years existing on that contract?”
“I want to give everyone a little bit of the why of what we did and to do that we are going to have to go back to February of 2020 when Mrs. Pormilli assumed the role of superintendent for our district. She came on board with over 20 years of experience in education and also as an administrator and her whole life brought her to that moment,” Palmeri said.
He added, “she was excited with plans and goals that she wanted to turn the page and start a new chapter for the Jackson School District. As we all know a few weeks went by and in March of 2020 COVID-19 swept the nation and the world really. The governor ordered schools to close. The president closed the country and for two years we had virtual learning.”
“Just last year we started seeing normalcy again and students were back in the classroom. Teachers were back in the classroom. The Board started to strategize as to what we would do and what it would look like to have a plan in place to mend that learning loss, that gap of two years that our students lost due to the pandemic,” the Board President added.
He noted, “with that in mind we wanted stability. We wanted to have a superintendent that would be here long term and one that would be able to navigate us through this time. We also felt that the two years of COVID were stolen from Mrs. Pormilli. She didn’t have that opportunity to do as she wanted, to see this district prosper and grow.”
“What we did as part of the strategy was to reopen up Mrs. Promilli’s contract and we wanted to re-sign her for five years which we did in November 2022 at a public Board meeting. Her benefits remain the same from 2020,” the Board President added.
“We did increase her salary because we took stock of other school districts in similar size to the Jackson School District such as Brick, Lakewood and Toms River. We wanted to make sure our superintendent was at the medium salary as those other superintendents,” Palmeri said.
Palmeri said the Board increased Pormilli’s salary to be more on the level of her peers. “What we didn’t want was what Toms River went through for well over a year and a half where they were without a superintendent and it is not easy to find and to secure a competent superintendent.”
“We have a great superintendent now with us for over the next five years that is going to see us through to the future,” Palmeri said. He credited her dedication noting conversations he has had with her about district matters during evening and weekend hours.
Disputing rumors and false information circulating on social media that stated the superintendent’s health benefits and those of her family were absorbing thousands of dollars from the school district, the Board President stated, “Let me be very clear as Mrs. Pormilli and her family are eligible for health benefits. Mrs. Pormilli had opted out of health benefits. This is actually saving the district thousands of dollars – not costing us thousands of dollars.”
“That was the reasoning behind it so I hope this answers some of the questions out there. I think this was the best decision for our students and so does this board. I think we are at a good place with Mrs. Pormilli at the helm.”
Pormilli thanked Palmeri for his remarks about her but also noted the dedication and work of her team. “We care about our students,” she said.
New Committee Formed
Board member Megan Gardella presented a resolution that formed a new committee. “It resolves to create an advocacy and community outreach committee of the board comprised of Board of Education members, community members, parents, administrators and teachers for the purpose of – among other things – enhancing communication on matters of the school community.”
The Board unanimously voted to approve the formation of the new committee.
Remembering Long-Time Staffer
Also noted during the meeting was the passing of Susan McGinley a staff member of Jackson Memorial High School who died unexpectedly at home to the shock of her fellow staff members.
Palmeri noted the loss during the meeting saying, “Sue worked closely with students and staff for more than 20 years and her energy, humor and warmth will be sorely missed. We offer our deepest sympathy and support to Sue’s family but also to her Memorial family.”
“I express my sincere condolences to the McGinley family. Sue’s loss is felt deeply. Her shining light at Memorial High School and across the district are going to be greatly missed,” Pormilli said.
Pormilli called McGinley a “wonderful student advocate and staff supporter. We want everyone to know how much she will be missed.”
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