The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
The Board of Education at its Sept. 18 meeting said goodbye to its long-time business administrator, John Calavano.
Sort of.
Board members held a short ceremony at the beginning of the meeting to praise Calavano for his 17 years of service to the district, and, later in the meeting, hired him as a consultant through February, 2015.
Board vice president Eva Nagy praised Calavano for what she called his dedication to the students and staff, and his skills which brought international attention to the district.
“He has been a phenomenal business administrator and assistant superintendent,” she said. “We may disagree on things, but the one common agreement we all had was our full confidence in you.”
Nagy noted that when Calavano first came to the district, there were areas in its finances “that needed work.”
Under his stewardship, she said, the district has won international financial awards 17 consecutive years.
“I know in your heart you will always have a bit of Franklin Township,” she said.
Nagy presented Calavano with an brass plaque embossed with the board’s resolution honoring his tenure.
Calavano’s last day with the district is Sept. 29. He will take a similar position in the West Orange school district.
Although Calavano is leaving, he was hired by the board as a “transition consultant” from Sept. 29 through Feb. 1, 2015, at a per diem rate of $635. The administration wanted Calavano on board through the Dec. 9 referendum vote.
The board Sept. 18 also approved the hiring of Arlene Biesiada as interim business administrator at a per diem rate of $635. Biesiada was most recently interim B.A. in the Milltown school district.
