Dennis Board of Ed Suspends Superintendent

DENNISVILLE — The Dennis Township Board of Education voted to immediately suspend School Superintendent George Papp during its regular board meeting Wed., April 18. Reason for the suspension was not given.
According to School Business Administrator Terry Nowotny, the motion was passed suspending Papp with full pay and benefits after the board spent part of the meeting in executive session.
In a phone interview, Nowotny told the Herald the motion read, “Motion to suspend the superintendent, George R. Papp, with pay and all other benefits set forth in his employment contract for the 2011-2012 school year.”
Papp’s compensation package for that year includes a $120,477 base salary. He had been working under his 2010-2011 salary package. A new compensation package, including a 2 percent raise was sent to the County Superintendent for his approval but has not yet been approved. If approved by the county, it is not certain if Papp will receive the raise, said Nowotny. Papp’s position with the district was both as superintendent and principal of the township’s primary school.
A separate motion passed by the board named Dr. Joseph LaRosa acting superintendent as well as principal, effective April 19.
During LaRosa’s tenure with the district he has served as Primary School principal as well as acting superintendent prior to Papp’s hiring. LaRosa most recently served as building principal of the district’s elementary and middle schools.
A motion was also passed making Joann Shilinsky acting Primary School principal. In addition to being named acting principal, Shilinsky will continue in her role as Director of Special Education and Child Study Team.
The board had made Papp aware that his contract was not going be picked up for the 2012- 2013 school year. To that end, the board sought applicants for its superintendency and completed its interviews for the position.
“They have not made an official selection yet,” Nowotny told this paper. “The interview process has been completed and there is a likely candidate but there has not been a decision or any action taken or a date set.”