The Alternative Press

CHATHAM TOWNSHIP, NJ - The school district continued to add to its list of changes in the administration by approving two new vice principals in the district.

The administration changes started in January with the promotion of Michael LaSusa, moving up from assistant superintendent to superintendent to take over for interim Superintendent Dennis Fyffe. Fyffe was named the interim after former Superintendent Jim O'Neill resigned last year.

LaSusa's first day was not until July 1 so Monday night's meeting was his first official one as the head of the district.  In addition, Karen Chase came over from the Montville school district to take over for LaSusa as new assistant superintendent in Chatham.

One of LaSusa's first official moves as superintendent had the district add to the changing face of administrators on Monday night with the school board unanimously approving Douglas Walker as the new vice principal at Chatham High School and Marco Freyre as the new vice principal at Lafayette School.

"We have two outstanding candidates that we are excited about," said LaSusa.

Freyre was a teacher at Long Hill Township for the last nine years. He also worked at Long Hill as the dean of students. "It's really great just coming over the hill and I can't wait to get started," said Freyre.

Walker he comes to Chatham from Jefferson Township School District in Sussex County where he was the supervisor of instructional technology, kindergarten through 12th grade. "I can't wait to get started," said Walker.

LaSusa said both the Long Hill and Jefferson Township districts were disappointed in letting go of the new Chatham  vice principals. "There were a lot of tears on the phone when we called for a reference in Jefferson," said LaSusa.

The choices of Walker and Freyre ends an extensive search as the number two in the administrative hierarchy at the high school and Lafayette School.

In other business, LaSusa said the kindergarten spots at Washington Avenue School had filled up at 100 and that a recent application was sent to Southern Boulevard School since the transportation cost to Milton Avenue School would have been prohibitive.

The total kindergarten applications at Southern stood at 107 while there were 69 at Milton Avenue School, LaSusa said.

Business Administrator Peter Daquila said that the district continues working on capital projects during the summer as Chatham schools get ready for Sept. 6, the first day of school for the 2012-13 school year.

Some of the projects include tile abatement at Southern Boulevard and Washington Avenue schools. In addition Daquila said that the district will receive three new boilers this week. He added that the boilers will help the school maintain the right temperature for inside depending on the outside temperature.