P'burg board vote goes against principal again Tuesday, July 31, 2007 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | For the second time in two months, the Phillipsburg School Board voted against renewing Andover-Morris School principal Jeanette Gilliland's contract Monday night. The board decided during a May 14 meeting to fire Gilliland, and she appealed the move through a process called a Donaldson hearing. Board President Paul Rummerfield and board member Kevin DeGerolamo said they stand by their initial decision. "I feel the action we took on (May 14) was the right one," Rummerfield said. After meeting privately Monday, board members considered a motion to reinstate her contract for another year. Three board members -- Bernie Brotzman, Steve Zarbatany and Stanley Hughes -- supported the motion. In May, Zarbatany and Hughes voted to rehire Gilliland. Brotzman said he voted for the renewal Monday because of the potential legal costs the district could face if Gilliland continues fighting the termination. "You always have to be conscious of litigation," but officials shouldn't base their decisions solely on fear of a legal challenge, Rummerfield said. Gilliland did not attend the meeting and declined to comment when reached by phone Monday night. Gilliland has claimed she wasn't properly notified of the non-renewal. She and her attorney met privately with the board July 23. Her public firing sparked emotions on both sides of the issue; some expressed sympathy for her and others complained about her treatment of parents and students. Rummerfield previously said she displayed a pattern of inappropriate behavior and cited what he called anger management issues. Gilliland earned $101,681 as the top administrator of the elementary school, where she worked for three years. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.