The Rockaway Township Board of Education on Dec. 11 recognized a large group of district employees for years of service and tenure and approved administration recommendations that included renewing the superintendent's contract.

The meeting included a series of ceremonial recognitions at which principals and colleagues read tributes to staff with 30, 25, 20 and 10 years of service across KDM, Birchwood, Dwyer, Stony Brook and Copeland Middle School. Honorees included custodial, transportation and classroom staff; specific mentions in the presentations included Jude Wallen, Lynn Shoner, Luz Colon Rodriguez and numerous classroom teachers and support staff. Families were invited forward and speakers emphasized community, dedication and continuity.

Board action later in the agenda included routine approvals by roll call: minutes, personnel items, special-education recommendations, HIV/HIB determinations and finance recommendations. The administration package included a motion that the board approved which extended Dr. Richard Corbett's contract; Corbett thanked the board and said he looked forward to continuing in the role.

Several board members used the meeting's public and new-business periods for formal thank-yous and farewell remarks to outgoing trustees; multiple speakers credited departing members with long service and described their contributions to board governance. A teachers'union representative (identified in the transcript as "Bridal Adams, RTEA") praised newly-tenured colleagues and the technology team for their work restoring systems after a cyber incident.

What happens next: the district will post the audit and continue the process for conveying staff recognitions to the community; the superintendent will continue in his role under the renewed contract and board membership will change after election or appointment processes as scheduled.

Quotes from the meeting:
"I am the proud superintendent of Rockaway Township Public Schools," Dr. Richard Corbett said after the board approved administration recommendations.
"We are acknowledging their resilience," a union representative said of the colleagues honored tonight.

Article provenance: topicintro SEG 2566; topfinish SEG 4669.