Board stands pat on leader Paul Rummerfield will serve another term as president. Tuesday, April 29, 2008 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Paul Rummerfield secured a third term as Phillipsburg School Board's president Monday night and board member Kevin DeGerolamo gained his first term as vice president. Both look forward to tackling the challenges facing the district. "The district is, in my opinion, at a crossroads," Rummerfield said. Hiring a new superintendent, rebuilding and revamping the administrative team and contending with increased academic standards are a few of the issues on the district's plate, he said. Keeping up the fight for the new high school and contending with the uncertain future of Abbott districts are two other issues that will require attention, he said. Rummerfield has a decade of experience as a board member and is a former town mayor. DeGerolamo, who is beginning his sixth year as a board member, heads up the personnel and negotiations committee. He is the brother of Phillipsburg Council President David DeGerolamo. Kevin DeGerolamo replaces Tom McGuire, who remains a board member but did not seek another term as vice president. Newcomer Shirley Burger was sworn in to a three-year term on the board; she recently ousted longtime board member and former board President Steve Zarbatany. Burger has several children in the district. She thinks it is important to represent parents' wishes on the board. "Hopefully we can get back on the right track," Burger said. Robert Edinger, Lopatcong Township School Board representative to Phillipsburg, replaces Frank Kish, who chose not to seek re-election. Kish was on the Lopatcong school board for 25 years and the Phillipsburg School Board for about 13 years. He was Lopatcong's only representative on the board to date. Kish, who is known among friends as "Duke," earned a standing ovation Monday night. Sitting Phillipsburg board members Bernie Brotzman and Rosemarie Person were sworn in to new three-year terms. School officials recognized the following former Phillipsburg board members for their service: Patricia Babcock, Kish, Robert Brennan, Karen Murray, Stanley Hughes and Zarbatany. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.