Holmdel school administrator tapped for Manalapan post
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer

The Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education was expected to name a new superintendent of schools at a meeting last night.

Board members were expected to name Dr. Maureen Lalley, the assistant superintendent in Holmdel, as the successor to Joseph F. Scozzari.

Scozzari is retiring at the end of December and Lalley will take over her post on Jan. 1. She will guide a K-8 district that includes 5,713 students and approximately 730 staff members.

"After an extensive search with several well qualified candidates, we have selected an individual who is an educator, who will deliver the quality of education this district is accustomed to having," said school board President James Mumolie. "Dr. Lalley is a leader who will take this district into the 21st century."

Scozzari, who has served as the regional district’s superintendent for more than two decades, supported the board’s decision and said he will be working with Lalley during the transition period.

"I am very pleased that Dr. Lalley has accepted the contract and that she will be able to come to the district as soon as I leave," Scozzari said. "We welcome her to the Manalapan-Englishtown family. I will do everything I can to help her make the transition so that the district moves on successfully."

The new superintendent will have a contract with the district that will run through June 30, 2005. Her initial salary is authorized at $129,500, and there will be subsequent increases as agreed upon in her contract.