New Head Of Security Hired To Oversee Hillsborough Schools

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The Hillsborough School District kicked off the New Year with lots of additions including swearing in three members to serve on the Board of Education meeting, hiring a new head of security, and more at the Reorganization meeting on Tuesday night.

Former Randolph Police Chief David Stokoe was hired for the new position of Coordinator of School Security Operations through June 30 with a salary of $82,000.

The new position and his hiring were the result of the passage by voters of the the school referendum question on school security on the November ballot.

The $934,636 referendum allocates funds to be used exclusively to create a security department, including salaries and other compensation, benefits, uniforms, and supplies for a supervisor and nine building monitors.

"School security is a topic that I am extremely passionate about and I want to thank Superintendent [Michael] Volpe and his team for putting their trust and confidence in me to head up your security initiative," said Stokoe. "School security is something that we all play a vital part in and have a responsibility for. I look forward to supporting and complimenting the entire team here, parents, staff, faculty, and students in helping continue to make the Hillsborough school district a safe and secure environment that is conducive to learning and development."

Volpe said that he and Stokoe have a full day of interviews on Friday to hire building monitors.

"I am hoping to have most of the hires made," said Volpe.

Additionally, as part of the additional staffing referendum question that passed, the Board approved the hiring of two other positions on Tuesday.

Danielle Basilone was hired for the new position as an Interventionist- Literacy grades 5/6 at Auten Road Intermediate School(ARIS) through June 30 with a salary of $64,840.

Swati Vakani was also hired for the new position as a School Counselor at ARIS through June 30 with a salary of $67,540.

Swearing In

At the reorganization meeting, incumbents Cynthia "Cindy" DeCavalcante Nurse and Paul Marini along with Cassandra Kragh were sworn in to serve on the Board.

All three emerged victorious over Pritpal Phanda in the November election.

Marini was chosen to serve as Board President again and Nurse was chosen to serve as Vice President.

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