Interim principal named Post vacant since Jeanette Gilliland fired. Marian Trapani to fill position through Sept. 30. Tuesday, August 14, 2007 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | School board members Monday temporarily shifted the district's former director of whole school reform and special projects into a principal post left vacant when they fired Jeanette Gilliland. Board members authorized appointing Marian Trapani as the top administrator of Andover-Morris School effective July 1 through Sept. 30. Meanwhile Gilliland continues to challenge the board's failure to renew her contract. Board Attorney Don Souders said the district received notice late Monday afternoon indicating Gilliland is appealing the nonrenewal decision to the New Jersey Department of Education. "There will be a hearing in front of an administrative law judge," Souders said. That has yet to be scheduled, he said. He declined to comment on the specifics of the appeal or how the district will respond. Gilliland earned $101,681 in her position at the elementary school, where she worked for three years. After a public firing, Gilliland said she planned to fight the district's decision. Officials held a Donaldson hearing in a closed-door meeting last month when she had the opportunity to plead her case but she was not reinstated. A motion to renew her contract failed in a split vote during a special board meeting recently. Souders said Gilliland has, so far "expressed a desire to come back to the district." Bill Poch, the board's business administrator, said school officials will likely advertise soon for a principal at Andover-Morris. Trapani will lead the school at her present salary until board members decide how to permanently fill the role. As director of whole school reform and special projects she earned $112,344. Board members terminated Trapani's position during a June meeting when they also cut Superintendent Gordon Pethick and board Attorney Don Morrow. Pethick's contract won't be renewed past June 30, 2008. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.