Brick Board Names Gialanella Interim Superintendent

BRICK, NJ -- The Brick Township Board of Education named Thomas Gialanella interim superintendent of the school district and terminated the contract of interim superintendent Richard Caldes Thursday night.

Caldes has been serving as interim superintendent of the district since May 2015 in the wake of the arrest of Superintendent Walter Uszenski on official misconduct charges.

The board voted four in favor, three abstentions, with new Board President John Lamela, and board members Victoria Pakala, Stephanie Wohlrab and George White voting in favor, board member Sharon Cantillo abstaining due to a conflict and Karyn Cusanelli abstaining “as i was not aware of the process.”

Board member John Barton also abstained because of his conflict -- his wife works for the district -- but did so under protest.

“I don’t think it’s fair I don’t have a vote in this process,” Barton said.

Caldes returns to his position as education specialist in the district.