Board advertises for new business administrator
BY DANIELLE MEDINA
Correspondent

BRICK TOWNSHIP - The Board of Education appointed an interim business administrator last Wednesday to fill in for Nicholas C. Puleio, who will leave the district in December.

The board hired educational consultant Melindo A. Persi, a former teacher, school superintendent and business administrator, to assume business administrator and board secretary duties until a permanent replacement is found.

"Mel Persi is well-skilled," Superintendent Thomas L. Seidenberger said at the Nov. 15 board meeting. "He's going to get right in and work very hard on the budget."

Persi's hiring is effective Nov. 20. He will be paid on an as-needed basis at the rate of $600 a day.

"It's a big job, but based on his résumé and interview, he should have no problem with it," board President Sharon Kight said.

Persi will be working alongside Puleio until he leaves the district, to become acclimated, and then how many days a week he works will be based on Seidenberger's discretion.

Puleio, who was appointed to be the state financial monitor for Camden's schools by acting Department of Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy last month, was slated to earn $153,520 for the 2006-07 school year.

Seidenberger said that the district has already begun its search for a permanent business administrator by posting the opening.

Persi has served as superintendent of schools in Edison, Elmwood Park and Washington Township, and as county superintendent of schools in Passaic County. He has also been a county school business administrator in Morris and Warren counties. He began his career as a teacher in Franklin Township.

He is also the president of MAP Associates LLC, Toms River, an educational consulting firm.

Persi's appointment was approved by a 4-0 margin, with Kight and board members Cynthia McCarthy, Daniel Rosa and John Talty approving the appointment. Board member Allen Atheras abstained from the vote because he was not present during Persi's interview with the board. Brian DeLuca and Frank Pannucci were not present at the meeting.