New School Board Approves Old Board Appointees

In a series of unanimous votes Tuesday, the Board of Education extended the employment of its administrators and re-appointed many of the same professionals.

In a 6-0 vote, the board approved the recommendation of Superintendent James Habel to extend the employment of five non-union administrators — including Assistant Superintendent Sandra Brower and Business Administrator Brian Smyth — for the upcoming school  year.

Neither Brower's or Smyth's salaries were set Tuesday. In 2009, each had a base pay of $160,500, according to state records.

Newly installed board members, and  — elected in an ouster of incumbent board members in the April school election — abstained from the vote. No reason was given during the meeting.

, also elected in April, voted with the majority. No members commented following the vote.

The board also appointed Habel to be the custodian of records, a duty normally assigned to Smyth. 

The board also voted to extend the employment of Board Attorney Michael Gross by voting unanimously to appoint his Red Bank-based law firm. Gross will be paid $135 an hour, according to the resolution.