Principal Shake-Up Planned For Holmdel Public Schools

HOLMDEL, NJ — At their meeting Wednesday night, the Holmdel Board of Education will be asked to approve a suggestion from superintendent Dr. Robert McGarry to move three out of the four principals to new schools.

If the Board approves his request, effective Aug. 1 of this year, these will be the new principals at each school:

Village Elementary School: Art Howard
William R. Satz School: William Loughran
Holmdel High School: Brian Schillaci

The only school that would be unchanged is Indian Hill, which will keep principal Lisa Marino, just placed there last year.

It is a major change and one Dr. McGarry just announced he was proposing in a letter sent to Holmdel parents this past Monday, July 23. When asked by Patch, Dr. McGarry called it "an opportunity for all of them and our teachers and staff to see things in each school and in our classrooms through new lenses ... it can only make us a richer and stronger school district."

In his letter to parents, Dr. McGarry said he is proposing the change because "growth comes when individuals step outside of their comfort zone and accept new challenges."

At least one Holmdel parent, who wanted to stay anonymous, voiced concerns about the move.

"This is a transfer not one of them requested," said the parent. "Is this move to hide the fact that one administrator is being punished? Is McGarry doing this to simply flex a metaphoric muscle?"

"Is a man with only elementary experience the best person to run a high school?" the parent asked. "This transfer, announced Monday July 23, is slated to be approved at the July 25 board meeting. A mere 48 hours is all the notice the community will receive in regards to the leadership of the respective school building ... Regardless of the reason behind the move, it is clear that Superintendent McGarry does not want the public to have time to react or respond."

Dr. McGarry declined to respond to that parent's comments.

The Board meets tonight, Wednesday July 25, at 8 p.m. at Satz school. The meeting is open to the public and public comment.

Photo by Carly Baldwin/Patch