Superintendent Kevin Kanauss (left) shakes hands with outgoing board of ed member Frank Scambia during the board’s Dec. 16 meeting.
The Deptford Township school board has honored three members who are retiring at the end of the year.
Board member Carol Gioia will leave after six years of service, Frank Scambia afters three and Ed Kalinowski after nine. The Dec. 16 board session was the last of their terms, and school Superintendent Kevin Kanauss presented each with a proclamation recognizing their service.
Gioia was the board’s liaison to Good Intent and Shady Lane elementary schools and part of the district’s curriculum committee.
“Dr. Gioia has served as the chairperson to the board’s curriculum committee,” said Superintendent Kevin Kanauss, “playing a key role in the creation of our Spartan academies, which has prepared hundreds of students for success in higher education and career fields.”
Scambia was also a chairperson for the curriculum committee who helped oversee the implementation of tool systems – such as the Renaissance Assessment Tools – to enhance learning throughout the district, according to Kanauss. He was also chairperson of the policy committee.
“Dr. Scambia served as a liaison to Deptford Middle School and Deptford Transitional Learning Academy at Deptford High School,” Kanauss noted, “enhancing the educational experience of our scholars.”
Kalinowski was a chairperson for the buildings and grounds committee, where he oversaw the construction and improvement of district facilities – such as renovations to the middle school – and the implementation of the high-school’s new track and artificial football field.
Kalinowski also was credited by Kanauss with “leading initiatives that resulted in improved staff recruiting and retention.”
Other school board members weighed in on the retirees and the hours they spent serving the district, including board President Joseph McKenna, who thanked Kalinowski, Scambia and Gioia.
“It was a pleasure working with you all and appreciate all the hard work you’ve done,” he added. “The district has made out (good) immensely because of you.”
“I want to reiterate and thank the board members who will be leaving us,” said board member James McDevitt. “Thank you for running for the school board and being a part of this school board. You did a great job, every one of you.
“We’re goind to miss you and thank you for putting your time into the students and the community.”
Kalinowski said a few words later in the board meeting about his time on the school board.
“It’s been an honor to be a part of this board for nine straight years,” he related. “But for me, it’s time to step away. I’ve gotten to know some great people: students, teachers, staff, the administration – of course my fellow board members. But we do this for the students.
“Students are our future,” Kalinowski added, “and we do this to make things better. I can truly say that when I leave, we’re still going to be in good shape.”
The next board of ed meeting will be a reorganization session at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, when three incoming board members, Stacy Gray, Linda Rosser and Juliah Davis, will be sworn in.
