UPDATED: Another Member Quits The School Board

There is more churn on the Wall Township Board of Education.

Mary Catherine McCarthy-Spellman, who in November beat out a packed field of six others to win a one-year term on the school board, has resigned with just two months left.

The resignation was accepted by the board at a special meeting held Friday morning, according to the agenda. McCarthy-Spellman’s photo has been removed from the district website.

McCarthy-Spellman's letter of resignation, read by Board President Eva Applegate, said she had moved out of Wall Township and therefore was ineligible for board membership.

"As of Sept. 6, 2013, I will no longer be a resident of Wall Township,'' McCarthy-Spellman's letter reads. "I have enjoyed my tenure on the board and I’m confident that the Interim Superintendent, Stephanie Belinker, will continue to imporove the district with the support of our current BOE members.''

McCarthy-Spellman, of Campbell Road, won election to the seat vacated by longtime board member Laurie Cannon, who also resigned from the 9-member board.

McCarthy-Spellman could not be immediately reached for comment.

The school board now must find a replacement to fill McCarthy-Spellman’s seat. Whoever is appointed will serve through December, but has the option to run for a full, three-year term in November’s election.

The board has scheduled interviews for the seat on Sept. 24.

Five terms – a majority -- are up for grabs on the 9-member board in the coming November election. The terms of Board President Eva Applegate, along with members Eric Brophy, Kerrin McGowan, Colin Nash, and McCarthy-Spellman will be open for polling.

The district has also seen a number of key people leave the district recently.

Superintendent Daniel Simon left the district in June to take a principal job with the Freehold Regional School District. Longtime Intermediate School Principal Gary Azzolini retired earlier this month. The resignation of Curriculum Director MaryJane Garibay also was accepted by the board in May.

The district recently has had two previous high-ranking members – former Superintendent James Habel and his deputy Sandra Brower – indicted on a litany of charges brought by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The school system is being temporarily led by interim Superintendent Stephanie Bilenker, who was previously hired by the district to fill in before Simon’s appointment.

Bilenker retired in 2011 from the Green Brook Board of Education in Somerset County. She collects a $97,476 pension, according to state records.

She is paid $13,750 a month by the Wall Township Board of Education, or roughly a $165,000 annual salary. Bilenker is under contract until June, 2014, according to school board minutes.