McGinley Out As Easton School Superintendent

The Easton Area School District is looking for a new superintendent.

The school board voted 5-2 Tuesday night against a new five-year contract for Susan McGinley, who was hired by the school board in 2008.

She will leave the job at the end of the 2012-2013 school year.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, McGinley said she was grateful for her years with the district, which stretch back to 1979.

"It's part of being a superintendent, and you know the job comes with that possibility," she said when asked if she was surprised by the vote.

McGinley's tenure was marked by a period of financial unrest in the school district. The school board in 2010 and again earlier this year, and has been wrestling with a teachers contract that board members call

"I think these are very unprecedented times," said McGinley, who argued she had "excelled in all areas" on her evaluations.

Board members declined to go into much detail about the vote.

"I think any discussion would have been a public discussion," said board member Robert Moskaitis. "The vote stands on its own."

"There's not a lot I can really say on it," board member Frank Pintabone said following the meeting. "But we're looking to move in a new direction, and this is part of that."

In addition to Pintabone and Moskaitis, board members Kerri Leonard-Ellison, Janet Matthews and William Rider voted against renewing the contract.

Board members Tim Reilly and Robert Fehnel voted to approve it. Newly appointed member abstained for voting, and board member Pat Vulcano was absent.

After the vote, board members voted to begin searching for a new superintendent.

McGinley's contract is set to expire at the end of June 2013. Under the contract, she earned $170,375 a year. And although she won't be superintendent after next year, the  chooses not to renew her contract, it must offer her another administrative position.