Ridgewood May 29, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 7 School trustees approve hiring of IT director by John Koster The Ridgewood Board of Education has approved the hiring of a director of information technology for the school system. The administration and board will proceed with the interviewing and hiring process. “I think it’s great. We need to get this position filled,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein said of the board’s decision. “We haven’t had an IT director for the past several years and we need one.” The new director will serve as the chief information officer for the district and will provide leadership and assist administrators and other staff in effective implementation of educational technology. The job entails developing and implementing long-term and short-term plans for acquiring IT hardware, software, and applications, and developing and administering the district budget for IT. Recruiting and developing IT staff is also part of director’s responsibilities. The new director will also ensure the correct completion of mandated local, county, state, and federal reports related to information technology. The new staffer, when hired, will report to the school business administrator and will work collaboratively with other members of the staff. Qualifications include state administrative certification, demonstrated knowledge of hardware and software, applications and resources, and the ability to communicate effectively with staff, parents, and students. The board also hired two new teachers for Ridgewood High School for the coming school year. Lisa Serafino was hired as a mathematics teacher for Ridgewood High School at a salary of $63,423 with an MA and step 3-4 qualifications. Amy Wegman was hired as a biology teacher at Ridgewood High School at a salary of $63,423 at the MA level at step 3-4. She will be enrolled in the NJ Department of Education provisional program. Donations to the schools recognized at the meeting included $11,159 from the Hawes Home and School Association to purchase 20 iPads and two charging stations, a $300 gift in kind from the Ridgewood High School TV Club of DVDs and CDs, $250 from Somerville Hawes Dads Night to purchase paint for the BF Cares program and another $250 from Dads Night for the creative writing club advisor’s stipend, and $200 from the Kaskovich family to purchase textbooks for Mrs. Starace’s first grade class. Princess Ida and her courtiers captivate at library The audience at the Ridgewood Library’s plain-clothes version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Princess Ida” was captivated the moment Iris Karlin started to sing. “She blew them away,” said Toni Mathis, who arranged for the Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan performance. Karlin, a professional operatic soprano, wore a dress and a flamboyant hairstyle, appropriate for the lead role of Marguerite in Charles Gounod’s “Faust,” her scheduled performance at Amore Opera in New York City the following Saturday night. Her clear diction and forceful oper- atic soprano riveted the unsuspecting audience when she strode out and took over in the role of the princess who -- temporarily -- hates all men. Ridgewood Gilbert & Sullivan has been operating for 75 years. With Music Director James Biddlecome conducting at the Ridgewood Library auditorium and accompanist Laura Ravotti on piano, the cast of talented and dedicated amateurs and semi-amateurs sang and acted their way (continued on page 15) Iris Karlin