SCOTCH PLAINS — The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education met Tuesday to announce various staffing and financial changes in the district, including the approval of an increase in the superintendent’s salary and resignations from among the school board and district staff.
After 15 years in elected office, Amy Winkler announced her resignation from the board. Although she did not provide details behind her decision, Ms. Winkler said, “it wasn’t an easy decision for me to step down, as I take my board responsibilities really seriously, and I don’t want to betray the trust the community has given me for so many years.” Members of the board expressed thanks for what they called Ms. Winkler’s dedication to student success, robust knowledge of school-board policy, and what Superintendent Joan Mast, Ed.D., called her willingness to “challenge you and ask you the tough questions.” Ms. Winkler’s term was set to expire at the end of 2025, and Board President Evan Murray told attendees that the board is actively looking to fill the vacant seat with a Fanwood resident.
The board also announced the resignation of Matthew Aurand, the district’s grade 6-12 mathematics supervisor, who will take a new position effective immediately. Dr. Mast said the board was aware of Mr. Aurand’s intentions to find a new role, citing a 90-minute commute among reasons for the job change. Dr. Mast said that she will step into a support role for math teachers at the high school, while an assistant principal will work with math teachers at the middle-school level. The board did not say how long the restructuring would last or if the district will hire a new math supervisor.
Mr. Murray told attendees that the board unanimously approved a new salary of $240,000 for Dr. Mast, which is an increase of $13,210. He explained that, “the average [salary] for schools with similar enrollment and budget size is $256,575. So that’s quite a large difference.”
The board rescinded Dr. Mast’s current contract, which was set to expire in June of 2026, and approved a new, five-year contract of employment effective July 2025 through July 2030. Of the board’s decision, Mr. Murray said that, “we felt that this was the time for her contract to be renewed at the set rate. Annual increase over the five years of this contract is in line with what we have done consistently with other district staff at the same comparable, competitive rates.” Business Administrator Christopher Jones shared that the district is sending $15,000 in overdue lunch fees to a collections agency after what he called a years-long attempt to recoup balances. The Hunger Free Students Bill of 2022 prohibits schools from denying students meals for any reason, which Mr. Jones said caused overdue balances to balloon to approximately $30,000. At the same time, state statutes dictate that school districts are prohibited from holding large, unpaid debts.
“My staff and business office did a massive outreach to all parents who had past-due balances. We made over 1,000 phone calls,” Mr. Jones said, explaining that the remaining debt of $15,000 represents the amount owed by 15 different families.
Multiple members of the school community spoke in favor of keeping Assistant Principal Brooke Esposito, Ed.D., at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (SPFHS) after it was announced that she will be moved to Terrill Middle School. One current freshman said that, “as if losing her as the only female principal to our school isn’t bad enough … we will lose her as a supervisor and integral piece of our teaching academy.” Dr. Esposito is the advisor for the SPFHS Social Justice Teaching Academy, a program that prepares students to become teachers. The student’s mother also spoke on behalf of Dr. Esposito’s role as assistant principal, stating that she feels the school is “losing a highly qualified, nurturing and encouraging leader to our high-school students.”
Dr. Mast thanked the speakers for their praise of Dr. Esposito and the teaching academy, adding that, “Dr. Esposito certainly has done a great deal to start that program, and she is still in the district, so she will be able to support and advise the next person who will take the lead.”
The board of education will meet next on Tuesday, May 20, for its teacher recognition awards at 3:30 p.m. and for its student recognition awards at 7 p.m.
