P'burg loses another top administrator Tuesday, September 11, 2007 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Phillipsburg school officials now have the top two administrative positions to fill by next year. Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline Attinello said during Monday night's school board meeting she is retiring effective Sept. 1, 2008. Attinello has worked her way up the district's ranks over the past 33 years but she said it is now time for her to move on. "My direction and the board's aren't the same anymore," she said. Attinello declined to elaborate but said her vision for the district varies from the majority of the school board. She said she gave her decision a lot of thought over the past several months. "Some of the actions they have taken, I don't necessarily believe in," she said, although she wouldn't cite specific instances. Rising through the ranks Attinello was a teacher at the elementary level for 22 years before becoming principal of the Andover-Morris School, a post she held for three years. She is in her ninth year as assistant superintendent. Her salary for 2007-08 is $137,031. Attinello, 55, is a Lopatcong Township resident. She, her husband and her two children all graduated from the Phillipsburg School District. She hasn't figured out her next step but said there are plenty of options to explore. She is certified in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and could consider an administrative position in another district. Her retirement comes during an administrative overhaul in the district. The board cast a divided midnight vote in June not to renew Superintendent Gordon Pethick's contract beyond June 2008. During that same meeting, the board eliminated the position of director of whole school reform and special projects and decided board Attorney Don Morrow would be out by the end of that week. "I read this with a heavy heart," Pethick said Monday night as he read the agenda item regarding Attinello's retirement. Years of dedication Attinello said she became assistant superintendent when Pethick became the chief school administrator. Board members thanked her for years of dedication and expressed regret as they voted to accept her retirement. Board member Steve Zarbatany voted against accepting it and asked her to reconsider her decision. Board member Richard Turdo abstained from the vote. Former board member Irene Weller pointed to last month's board meeting when some board members hesitated -- or voted against -- approving pay raises for Attinello and two other administrators. "I can't believe how shabbily this board of education treated her," Weller said. She called Monday "a very sad day" and questioned why any potential administrators would be interested in jobs at Phillipsburg. Attinello said her proudest times with the district have been watching students she's taught in elementary school grow over the years and go on to do great things. She said she is thankful to many in the district and "believes in the people and the kids." "For the next 12 months I'm going to keep working as hard as I ever have," she said. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.