New Super to be Announced at Meeting Friday

The Lacey Township Board of Education will be holding a “special meeting” on Friday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. in the high school Lecture Hall to introduce the candidate for Superintendent, President Jack Martenak said.

In August, a consultant from the New Jersey School Boards Association presented the results of a community input session. A report was developed based on residents concerns and what they would like to see in a new superintendent.

The school board used the report as guided input in making their selection. For more information on the report read, “”

Current Superintendent Richard Starodub was originally set to retire on Aug. 30 but pushed back his departure date to Oct. 31 as a new superintendent had yet to be selected.

Starodub has been the Superintendent of the Lacey Township School District

On Monday, Oct. 17, high school principal William Zylinski awarded Starodub with an honorary diploma.

“For the last time, as my mentor, I’m going to miss you and I know what you’ve done for Lacey Township High School in my time here is greatly appreciated,” Zylinski said.

Each board member also took the time to honor Starodub during his last school board meeting of his tenure. They noted his integrity, friendship, guidance, leadership, humility and more.

“Mr. Starodub, you have given so much to this community. You’ve given so much to everyone you worked with,” board member Maureen Tirella said. “I think I echo the board and every staff and student that you touched, you are a magnificent leader, a great mentor, a wonderful citizen and we just hope that we can all live up to the standards that you have set in service to this district and this community.”

Board member Eric Schubiger, who has known Starodub since he graduated from the school district 20 years ago, compared the superintendent to an offensive lineman.

“He’s led and protected us. That’s going to be tough to replace to be quite honest with everybody,” he said. “We have a lot of work cut out for us. All we can do is hope we’re doing the right thing moving forward but we’ve had the best that I’ve ever known.”

Starodub thanked the current and past Board of Educations, the school district staff and students.

“It’s certainly been a great experience to serve as superintendent,” Starodub said. “It’s been a privilege, never taken for granted and I think the school district is positioned in a good spot, even though times are tough economically, to move ahead because of the support of our students, our staff and our great parents. I look forward to continued good things and thank you for the opportunity to speak, to report and to serve.”