Hillsborough Hires New Assistant School Business Admin Amid Criminal Investigation

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough school board hired a new Assistant Business Administrator on Monday night following an ongoing criminal investigation into the school district's finances by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and the Hillsborough Police.

Michele LaFevre was unanimously hired by the Board of Education with a salary of $95,000 for a contract running from 2022 to 2023 during the May 9 meeting.

LaFevre is replacing assistant business administrator Luisa Rodriguez who resigned as of Jan. 14.

The criminal investigation triggered a number of resignations in the district including Business Administrator Aiman Mahmoud, Rodriguez, and most recently Superintendent Dr. Lisa Antunes.

An audit into the Hillsborough Township School District's finances found "multiple instances of concern," said Board of Education President Paul Marini at a previous meeting.

"As you can note from the report there were a number of actions taken over the course of the previous year that were either in conflict with the fine practices, especially as it relates to overtime and bid thresholds," said Marini at the April 26 meeting.

Here is a timeline of events that have unfolded:

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.

The Board of Education unanimously approved on April 26 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 Marini.

On Jan. 3, assistant business administrator Luisa Rodriguez resigns effective Jan. 14.

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.

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