School board member resigns, plans N.Y. move
South Brunswick now accepting applications for DeFalco's replacement
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - After three years of service on the Board of Education, Attilio DeFalco announced he was leaving South Brunswick to pursue career opportunities in upstate New York.

His resignation, which he read aloud during the board's regular Monday meeting, will lead the district to seek a qualified candidate to fill the vacancy DeFalco will leave behind.

"I only do it a couple of nights a month and I've only been doing it for a couple years, but this group is just amazing, this district is incredible. ... I'll miss them," DeFalco said.

When DeFalco's resignation becomes official at the end of this month, he will be leaving with his family to take a on position at the Cornell chemistry department in Ithaca, N.Y.

Calling the board "one of the finest organizations I have ever been in," DeFalco said that he would miss his fellow board members and that working with them has been an amazing learning experience.

"I truly have learned more than I put in. These people are just incredible. ... I will miss the excellence of the board and the way they take care of the students and I'll miss being involved in it," DeFalco said.

He said that he appreciated that, despite South Brunswick's large size, the district is able to still provide a good education for its youngsters as well as a sense of community. He also called the opportunity for his daughter to go through the same school system that his wife, who grew up in the township, went through was a great opportunity.

Superintendent Gary McCartney praised DeFalco by saying that he never once needed to question his motives when crafting school policy.

"Whenever you think of what you'd look for in a board member, as a superintendent, in my judgment, you always look for someone who always wants to do the right thing by students. ... I can honestly say that in every interaction with you, your position was always what's best for kids, what is it we need to do for our students, and that represents the highest level of voluntary commitment on school board matters and for that I am deeply grateful," McCartney said.

Board member Deborah Taylor, who successfully ran to fill another board vacancy last year, said that DeFalco was a great help in getting her started.

"I just want to say that you will truly be missed and ... you welcomed me as soon as I became a board member. You started directing me and helping point me in the right direction and you've been a great co-board member but you've also been a great friend," Taylor said.

The district is already taking applications for community members seeking to fill the soon to be vacant seat. Additional information from the district regarding the selection process will be announced in the near future. Candidates must be registered voters who have lived in South Brunswick for at least a year, be able to read and write, and cannot hold a contract with or claim against the school district. All interested residents of South Brunswick should send a letter of interest and résumé to South Brunswick Board of Education, Attn: Anthony N. Tonzini Jr., Board Secretary, P.O. Box 181, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852. The deadline for accepting applications is Sept. 10.