HILLSDALE—Resident Kevin G. Donatello, a Westwood Regional School District fifth-grade teacher, was selected Aug. 22 to serve on the Hillsdale Board of Education for the remainder of the 2022 calendar school year.
The vote was 4-0 to approve Donatello. Donatello will temporarily fill the slot left open by Shane Svorec’s recent resignation. The upcoming Nov. 8, 2022 election features two open board seats: a full three-year term and Svorec’s two-year unexpired term.
In June, the school board unanimously approved moving forward with an $82.5 million school bond referendum — planned for March 2023 — to replace the century-old George G. White Middle School.
The board has faced some criticism for approving the replacement referendum, although district officials insist that replacing the aged middle school would be best and the least disruptive to middle schoolers’ education over a likely two-year construction schedule.
The board hired a public relations firm in July for up to $55,000 to help produce district communications, a website and possible video overview to provide information on the proposed new middle school beginning this fall. (See “$82.5M middle school referendum approved for 2023,” June 17, 2022, Pascack Press online.)
Donatello teaches at Jessie F. George Elementary School in Township of Washington. He has been an elementary school teacher for the Westwood Regional District since February 2009.
His résumé lists 18 examples of “leadership experience” in curriculum, community and school involvement, and presentations and trainings.
Selected experiences include revising and presenting elementary curricula across all subject areas; chief negotiator for the Westwood Education Association; and staff development presenter for K-5 teachers.
Donatello has been a director with the Hillsdale/River Vale Day Camp, basketball director with Hillsdale Recreation, a supervisor with the Township Day camp in 2021, and division leader and counselor with Blue Rill Day Camp, Airmont, N.Y.
Other volunteer work included as coach for Hillsdale softball and T-ball. He holds certifications as principal, supervisor, social studies grades 5-8, and elementary school grades K-6.
He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Ramapo University, a master’s degree in elementary education from William Paterson University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from East Stroudsburg University.
Donatello was not at the Aug. 22 meeting. The next meeting is Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at Ann Blanche Smith Elementary School.
At the meeting, trustee Nicole Klas was elected school board president; trustee Sal Sileo was reelected as vice president, both by 4-0 votes.