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Closter board approves assistant-principal leave replacement, long-term ESL substitute and other staffing moves
Summary
The board appointed Justin O'Neill as Hillside long-term leave replacement assistant principal (Feb. 9–June 30, 2026) and approved Paul Donevan as a long-term ESL substitute beginning Jan. 5, 2026, along with several substitute hires, a paraprofessional appointment and an accepted resignation.
The Closter Board of Education on Dec. 10 approved a slate of personnel actions including an interim assistant principal appointment and a long-term ESL substitute.
The board appointed Justin O'Neill as Hillside Elementary School's long-term leave replacement assistant principal, effective Feb. 9 through June 30, 2026, pending a criminal-history background check. The position is funded at a pro-rated salary of $125,000 for the term specified.
The board also accepted the resignation of Hillside paraprofessional Sonali Shah effective Dec. 23, 2025, and approved the appointment of Debra Pohl Monesmith as a paraprofessional for the 2025'026 school year (5.75 hours per day) at $21.59 per hour, with a start date of Jan. 5, 2026, pending a background check.
Additionally, the board approved several substitute teacher and paraprofessional hires and approved a walk-in motion to appoint Paul Donevan as a long-term ESL substitute at Tenakill Middle School effective Jan. 5 through March 31, 2026. Donevan's pay was approved at $200 per day for days 1'10 and, beginning on day 11, MA Step 0 ($65,500) pro-rated. Superintendent Vincent McHale said the earlier start date was necessary to ensure ESL coverage for students.
All personnel items were approved by roll call (Yeas: Shih, Lee, Argenziano, Paldi, Micera, Choi; Nays: none). Appointments are contingent on successful criminal-history background checks where noted.
