TOMS RIVER – Thomas Gialanella was chosen as interim superintendent by the Board of Education.
Previously, Gialanella had been the superintendent for Jackson and served as an interim for Brick, where he had also taught. He also served as interim superintendent the last time Toms River had a superintendent search.
Gialanella will be paid $750 a day, and the position is expected to run January 1 until the end of June. Gialanella took a leave of absence from his current position as executive director of school relations for Ocean County College.
David Healy retired from the superintendent position, with the end of 2020 as his last days. He originally came to the district in 2014.
During his tenure, he has shepherded the district through good times and bad. The coronavirus pandemic came at a time when the district was being given significantly less state aid. He was a district cheerleader, bringing busses of residents and officials to Trenton to make some noise.
Healy led efforts to get a $147 million referendum passed to make capitol improvements to the district’s many buildings. This effectively made sure that the district’s maintenance continued while state aid took a hit. He also instituted green initiatives that saved energy, and by extension, saved money as well.
“We are in a much better place moving forward,” Board President Anna Polozzo said.
She listed off other accomplishments, including full-day kindergarten, higher test scores, improvements in special education resources and equity, and a restoration of public trust.
“We have been able to do all of these things under Superintendent Healy’s leadership,” she said.
The district achieved recognition as a “high performing district” in 2020, and was “Distinguished Organization of the Year” in 2017. This is a long way from the chaos of Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and the arrest of a previous superintendent, Michael Ritacco, in 2010.
“He helped us out of a hole,” Board member Joseph Nardini said. “He’s the man.”
Business Administrator William Doering remarked on his professionality and 24/7 commitment to the district.
“So much effort has gone into preserving and saving our district,” Doering said. “Dave put himself out there … and he did that to save our district, and he did it with passion and conviction because it mattered to him.
“You have my gratitude,” Doering said, “and I believe the gratitude of our regional community. Our kids in the district are the beneficiaries of your leadership and effort for a long time to come.”
Healy thanked the board and the community for the support he received throughout his time leading the district, and echoed Polozzo’s statements regarding the remarkable quality of the district’s teachers, staff members, and administrators. He acknowledged that the task before him was great, and could not have been accomplished without the backing of board members, colleagues, and families throughout the greater Toms River area.
“I took that responsibility … incredibly seriously,” Healy said before pausing to gather himself, clearly filled with emotion at the retrospective of his TRRS career.
“Actions speak louder than words,” said outgoing board member Michael Horgan, commending Healy for a proactive style which honored his promises. “People can disagree with decisions,” Horgan added, “… [but] really, the effort that you’ve put into the district, I don’t think that can really be questioned.”
Healy expressed great confidence in Gialanella; thanked outgoing board members Horgan and Ginny Rhine for their contributions; and confirmed that he’d met with new board members Ashley Palmiere and Lisa Contessa, and was left very impressed.
“We’re in good hands,” he said.
