Fontana Approved as Acting Assistant Superintendent of the Phillipsburg School District

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ – The Phillipsburg Board of Education approved a series of personnel changes at their Monday, July 22, 2024 meeting at the Sargent Avenue Board of Education Center building.

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Fontana to Serve as Acting Assistant Superintendent

Among the key items at Monday’s meeting, the board voted on the appointment of Amy Fontana as Acting Assistant Superintendent for the 2024-2025 school year. Fontana, is being promoted from within the district,. Her appointment is pending approval from the Warren County Department of Education and the New Jersey Commissioner of Education, as recommended by the Superintendent. Fontana's salary in her new role will be $159,000. Fontana has had a long tenure in the school district as a teacher, then Principal at Barber School, to her role as Principal of Phillipsburg Primary School. Fontana will begin her role once approved. Fontana was joined at the meeting by her husband, Russell, and son.

LaForgia Moving to Phillipsburg Primary School as Principal

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From Principal of Barber School and several schools along the way, most recently the Middle School, Dr. LaForgia will be returning to the Primary School at Green Street filling the Principal seat of Fontana permanently. The move to approve the transfer of Raffaele LaForgia, Principal at Phillipsburg Middle School to Principal at Phillipsburg Primary School is effective July 23, 2024 at his current salary.

Stillo to fill in as Interim Principal of Middle School

Stillo was approved to switch to interim Phillipsburg Middle School Principal effective from July 23, 2024 through June 30, 2025, at his current salary plus a $35.00 per day increase. Stillo is transferring from an Assistant Principal role at Phillipsburg High School.

Of the changes, several board members questioned vacancies, to which Dr. Troxell stated they would be “actively seeking to fill all positions” and said they would all be advertised. The goal would be to have assistant principals in place, and full staff ready to start the school year. The staff shuffling, two board members were commended for ensuring experienced leadership could step in so there would not be a beat missed.

In other business, the board approved a new five-year contract for Superintendent Dr. Greg Troxell. The contract will begin on July 1, 2024, and extend through June 30, 2029. Troxell's salary will start at $236,325 in 2025 and rise to $269,853 by the end of the term. A study by NJ.com released in May stated their research showed , “The average salary for a full-time superintendent for the 2023-24 school year was $193,671”. Board Member Paul Rummerfield abstained, noting his daughter is a third-grade teacher in the district.

Other school business that passed was a memorandum of understanding with the district directors. Under negotiation for over a year, board member Rummerfield noted he heard the vote was split and had concerns about whether the MOA was meeting the directors' needs, as it was not unanimous. Noting the resignation of Kirby Hendershot as a voting member, the vote was likely split 4-4, and Rummerfield asked for details and meeting notes to understand the key points of the negotiations. Supintendent and the Board President agreed to provide Rummerfield with the meeting notes.

Resignations

The board accepted the resignation of Mr. William Horn, Assistant Principal at Phillipsburg Middle School, with an effective date yet to be determined. Mr. Horn has served the district since August 2001 and Superintendent Troxell stated he was leaving to take a position at Warren Technical School.

Kirby Hendershot, who had been employed by the district since 2011, also resigned. Hendershot will be leaving to accept a position in the Bethlehem Township School District.

Superintendent Troxell thanked all the staff and board, citing he knew we had to move people around; others stepped up, and leadership was set for the students and staff for the school year while they continued to fill vacancies. Troxell also noted he is "extremely confident in the staff", each of them representing nine buildings and over 50 years of district experience among them.

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