Seidenberger participates in first board of education meeting

New Superintendent of Schools Thomas Seidenberger eased into what will become a familiar seat in the coming months on Thursday night.

On the job since Jan. 21, Seidenberger attended his first official Board of Education meeting in Brick last week. While the pre-agenda meeting saw no official action taken, one item in the personnel section could present an early challenge.

Brick Township High School Principal Deborah Fadde has announced her resignation, effective March 31. That resignation is expected to be officially accepted by a vote during tomorrow night’s regular board meeting.

Former Superintendent Philip Nicastro also sat with the board last week to help Seidenberger with his transition. He said tomorrow’s meeting will likely be his last before joining the private sector permanently as a consultant for Straus Esmay Associates, Toms River.

"I’m still going to be local. Any time someone needs me, I’ll just be a phone call away," Nicastro said.

Nicastro has been an administrator with the district since 1992 and became its acting superintendent in 2000. The acting status was made permanent after an earlier search for his replacement yielded unsatisfactory candidates.

"I’ve loved my time in the Brick school district. It’s been such a pleasure working with such great, talented, caring people," Nicastro said. "Most of all, I’ll miss the kids. I’ll miss watching the football games, the basketball games, the concerts, just getting involved and speaking to the kids in the classrooms."

Seidenberger was named Nicastro’s successor in November. Previously, he served as superintendent of the Avon Grove school district in West Grove, Pa.

"I have so many people to thank for making this such a wonderful transition," Seidenberger said. "I’ve been very busy meeting a lot of new people and getting to know everyone."

Seidenberger now faces the challenge of getting his first Brick school budget passed a year after many in the state failed. The state is anticipated to grant only slight aid raises to school districts this year.

"Working on the school budget has been a great way to learn about the district," Seidenberger.

The board held a brief ceremony to honor a group of Veterans Memorial Middle School students who placed in a national language arts competition.

The WordMasters Challenge encourages students to learn difficult words and use them to complete analogies. The Veterans Memorial team placed fifth among 318 others in their grade level. Those recognized were: Megan Cook, Rebecca Hoagland, Brittany Jasperse, Kelly Kubas, Miles Pisani, Christopher Polacco, Stephen Turner and Amanda Walker. Their teachers were Doris Czarnecki and Jerilyn McCabe.