Fair Haven Board of Education Appoints New Staff for 2011-2012 School Year

Although the school year just came to a close, the search for a new principal is heating up with the Fair Haven Board of Education with the appointment of new professional staff members and the review process of the principal candidates beginning in a little over a week.

With the sudden retirement of Stephen Megill III, due to illness, the board welcomed eight new teachers including speech-language pathologist Robyn Blonder, special education teacher Karen Florio, part-time social worker Nicole Green, fifth grade teacher Kristin Marchese and part-time sixth grade teacher Maria Schiano.

Tara D’Uva will be the replacement teacher for Mrs. Maguire beginning in September. While Matthew Growick and Sharon Mikolajczyk will be temporarily be replacing Mrs. Dougherty and Ms. Venino, respectively, beginning in the fall.

In addition to new teachers, Knollwood is welcoming Kean University student intern Katie Toole. Toole will begin her three hundred-hour School Counselor Internship with Pamela Greenhall beginning in September 2011.

The search for the new principal continues after the recent retirement of Knollwood principal Thomas Famulary. Beginning July 5th the interview board will meet from 3p.m. to 6p.m. to begin reviewing and interviewing candidates. The Fair Haven board will then hold a meeting toward the end of the month with a date yet to be decided.

 Community Reports

The PTA presented its end-of-the-year report, which included multiple successes including presenting four MacBooks toward the Knollwood music program and Family Fun Day.

The end of the school year Family Fun Day, hosted by the PTA, drew in 850 students and families and was a huge success, said Cathy Alescio. “It was crowded but we had a good turnout,” she said.

The PTA also allocated $16,000 toward cultural enrichment programs, $3000 toward Sickles Field Day, fully funded the fifth grade D.A.R.E. program and increased the fifth grade dance budget to $1000.

In addition the PTA donated a new flagpole, which will be placed in front of Knollwood School. A new flagpole is not the only new addition to Knollwood School. Knollwood School will also be receiving new carpeting in the office funded by the maintenance budget.

Knollwood School and Sickles will also be receiving new paint in certain classrooms and new lockers, which will happen all before the start of the brand new school year.