South Brunswick Superintendent Jerry Jellig Quits, Gary McCartney Back

South Brunswick, NJ - Dr. Jerry Jellig is out.

The embattled former superintendent of the South Brunswick school district announced his official resignation Monday night. The Board of Education unanimously approved his decision to quit.

And, as Patch has reported, past superintendent Dr. Gary McCartney was brought back Monday to serve as temporary superintendent. There have been whispers that McCartney would be returning to South Brunswick to smooth things over in the wake of Jellig's departure. Longtime assistant superintendent Joanne Kerekes, who aprubtly quit under Jellig, also announced Monday night she is returning.

"The South Brunswick Education Association is extremely pleased with the board's decision to bring back Dr. McCartney and with Mrs. Kerekes' decision to return," said union president and high school teacher John Lolli. "They will bring stability and familiarity that is greatly needed right now. SBEA looks forward to meeting with both in the very near future to resolve any outstanding issues left over from Dr. Jellig's tenure."

After more than a year of battling with the teachers' union and district administrators, the Board placed Jellig on administrative leave May 9. It was a paid leave, so he collected his full salary, $177,500 a year, while the board decided what to do next, said Derlys Gutierrez, an attorney representing the board. But Jellig's decision to resign Monday night voided the remaining three years of his five-year contract with the district.

He has previously declined to speak to the media about his controversial time at the helm of South Brunswick schools.

McCartney, who retired as superintendent in 2014, developed a reputation for getting along with teachers and parents alike during his 10 years leading the district. After leaving South Brunswick, he was appointed by Gov. Chris Christie's administration to help save the nearly-broke Atlantic City public school system, as the state-appointed fiscal monitor. But that position ended in February.

When he was approved by the board Monday night, the crowd burst into applause and cheers.

“Thank you for that warm welcome,” McCartney said, reports TAP Into. “If I knew you cared that much, I would never have left.”

A Patch file photo of Dr. Gary McCartney, center, and a photo of Dr. Jerry Jellig.