Ex-Princeton Super Will Collect Full Salary Until Summer 2024

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Board of Education held a special meeting on Monday evening, to appoint a new interim Superintendent after Carol Kelley resigned last Friday.

However, some residents also questioned the Board on Kelley’s 10-month-long paid leave of absence.

The BOE appointed Rebecca Gold as the new Acting Superintendent. Gold served as the district’s Interim Asst. Superintendent for Human Resources.

“We have a plan in place to ensure the district continues to run smoothly. Rebecca Gold who has served as an administrator in charge when Dr. Kelley has been out of the district, is on the agenda tonight to serve as Acting Superintendent until we appoint someone to carry out those duties for the remainder of Dr. Kelley’s term,” Board President Dafna Kendal said at the start of the meeting.

Kendal told the community that BOE members met with leaders of all three unions after Kelley’s resignation.

“Teaching and learning continues, and I just want to commend the staff as always for their professionalism,” Kendal said.

Kelley announced her resignation from the post last Friday, after a tumultuous tenure as Superintendent. The biggest controversy was the dismissal of popular high school principal Frank Chmiel earlier this year.

This was followed by issues with the after-school service provider in September, following which they announced terminating their contract with the district.

Kelley has taken a leave paid leave of absence for a year and her resignation will be effective Aug. 31, 2024.

Questions Raised On Kelley’s Paid Leave

During the meeting, some residents raised questions about why Kelley was being allowed to go on paid leave for almost a year. According to state data, Kelley earns a salary of $244,800 a year.

Resident Jim Wolf asked the BOE if Kelley resigned on her own or was made to because if the decision was hers, the district would not have to pay her a full salary. “Why is she getting a leave of absence until Aug. 31, 2024? That needs to be answered,” Wolf said.

Another resident said she held the BOE responsible for Kelley’s paid leave of absence.

“If I see a Superintendent coming in with a PR firm, I have to ask why. She is not an actress or a celebrity, she’s the superintendent of our school system. Why is she concerned about her image to that degree? She will be judged by her performance,” the resident said.

Another resident said the BOE adopted a model of corporate governance rather than a model of democratic governance, especially when it came to matters of personnel, which are not discussed publicly.

“There are consequences for what personnel matters can be talked about,” the resident said. “I think you may have a lot more latitude than you think you do... Maybe we should have a conversation about getting some input about democratic governance and how to address personnel matters in a way that builds community trust.”

Board Failed To Protect Kelley, Says Tuck-Ponder

All BOE members voted ‘yes’ on the resolution to appoint Gold as the Acting Superintendent except Michele Tuck-Ponder. She read a brief statement in which she pointed out that the BOE failed in its responsibility to “manage, support and protect its chief executive.”

“The most important responsibility of a Board of Education is to manage, support and protect its chief executive. We are in this position today because of how this responsibility was managed or mismanaged by this Board from the outset. We will be held accountable by the public for our actions and decisions and that is appropriate. I can only hope we can hold ourselves accountable and that going forward we resist the urge to act in haste and without consideration of the long-term consequences of our action,” Tuck-Ponder said.

She also voted ‘no’ on the resolution allowing Kelley to go on a 10-month-long paid leave.

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