Superintendent Resigns As Criminal Probe Of Hillsborough School Finances Continues

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — After being on a leave of absence for the past four months, Dr. Lisa Antunes is resigning as superintendent for the Hillsborough Township School District.

Following a closed session meeting, the Board of Education unanimously approved a new resolution to approve Antune's paid leave of absence through May 1 and also to approve her resignation effective May 1.

Antunes said she is resigning as superintendent "for personal reasons and to pursue other professional opportunities," said Board President Paul Marini at the April 25 meeting.

Dr. Kim Feltre, who previously served as Assistant Schools Superintendent, will continue to serve as Acting Superintendent until at least graduation.

The board "immediately" began its search for someone to fill the full-time position, said Marini.

Antunes began serving as Hillsborough's Acting Superintendent in October 2019 when Dr. Jorden Schiff abruptly resigned due to issues related to the district's ongoing financial troubles, fighting over the teachers' contract and the rejection of the school referendum in March 2019.

Antunes was then appointed as Superintendent for the district on May 12, 2020. Read More: Dr. Antunes Named Hillsborough's New Superintendent Of Schools

Antunue's abruptly announced her leave of absence on Dec. 22, 2021. This was the same time the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and the Hillsborough Police began investigating the school district's finances. Business Administrator Aiman Mahmoud also abruptly resigned on Dec. 20, 2021. Read More: Prosecutor Investigates Hillsborough School Finances: Report

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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