Audit Findings Into Hillsborough School Finances Expected To Be Discussed Soon

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Findings from an audit into the Hillsborough Township School District's finances amid a criminal investigation are expected to be discussed soon, said school officials at its recent board of education meeting.

Board President Paul Marini said the Board of Education has received its report from the auditor.

"We are waiting for the prosecutor’s office to give the thumbs up to discuss it in a little more detail. We are hoping by the next meeting we are able to discuss, have a little more thorough conversation on what the findings were and how we are going to remediate those," said Marini at Monday night's meeting. "As of now, it's tabled for one more meeting."

This audit follows an ongoing criminal investigation into the school district's finances by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and the Hillsborough Police.

The investigation kicked off a slew of changes in the school district administration and school board.

On Dec. 20, School Business Administrator Aiman Mahmoud abruptly resigned. Mahmoud had served as School Business Administrator/Board Secretary at the Central Office in Hillsborough since Jan. 21, 2008.

At the same special meeting, the school board also voted to place a Central Office administrative staff member on leave.

On Dec. 22, School Superintendent Dr. Lisa Antunes stepped down for "a short leave of absence, effective immediately." In her place, Assistant schools superintendent Dr. Kim Feltre is now acting superintendent until Antunes returns.

On Jan. 3, assistant business administrator Luisa Rodriguez resigns effective Jan. 14. Additionally, the board also voted for change within itself. The board elected Marini president and John Oliver vice-president.

On Jan. 10, the school voted to approve hiring Paul Roth as the new interim business administrator effective Tuesday, Jan. 11. Additionally, the board also voted to sign a contract with Summit Management Solutions Inc. at a rate of $150 per hour.

Marini clarified that Summit Management Solutions would be providing an assistant business administrator along with someone to help the board work on referendum issues.

On Jan. 24, Gerald Eckert was unanimously appointed as the new Business Administrator/Board Secretary by the Board of Education.

Eckert previously served as Assistant Business Administrator in Hillsborough from 2008 through 2014 before serving with the Randolph Public Schools as Business Administrator/Board Secretary.

At the same Jan. 24 meeting, the board also took action to fill other temporary administrative vacancies. Dr. Tammy Jenkins, Principal of Sunnymead School was appointed Acting Director for Curriculum and Instruction.

Jenkins has served as Principal since 2004 and in 2017 was named National Distinguished Principal of the Year by the National Association of School Principals and Visionary Principal of the Year by the New Jersey Principal and Supervisors Association.

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