ALLENTOWN — The Upper Freehold Regional School District had a number of resignations this summer.

While some school staff chose to leave for career or family reasons, others made the decision based on Gov. Chris Christie’s decision to discontinue their health benefits if they didn’t retire this year, according to Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick said he was surprised at the resignation of Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) Rick Rivera.

“With all that’s happening in the state, he is concerned about his health benefits,” Fitzpatrick said. “With his position being part time … he did not qualify for health benefits. If he retired, he qualified [for] benefits.”

Rivera’s salary was $96,882. The school district is currently looking for a part-time SAC.

The Board of Education also accepted the resignation of Jill Dobrowansky, elementary/ middle school vice principal, on July 21. She decided to accept a principal position in another district. As assistant principal, she had been making $89,430.

Fitzpatrick said, “We’re disappointed that her time in our district was so short.”

The district has already initiated a hiring process to fill her position and conducted its first round of interviews July 21.

“The interviews went well,” Fitzpatrick said. “I believe we already found great promise in who we saw.”

The district plans to narrow the pool down from 12 and invite choice candidates back for a tour of the schools and observation. Fitzpatrick also noted that the district is considering the possibility of hiring two part-time administrators to replace the full-time position, which would allow the two schools, which are on separate campuses, to have their own administrator. Otherwise, the newly hired administrator would work two days in the elementary school and three in the new middle school. How the district fills the position(s) will depend on the talents, experience and certifications of those in the candidate pool.

Fitzpatrick also said that the district was disappointed to learn about the resignation of Allentown High School math teacher Michelle Wernersbach. The district had fought to keep her position in light of budget cuts, but Wernersbach’s husband had an unexpected job transfer. Her salary was $47,750. Melissa Cislak will take the high school math teacher position at a salary of $59,388. The district is looking to fill Cislak’s former part-time position as a math teacher. Her salary was $26,187 in that position.

Maintenance worker Larry Robinson retired. He had served as the district’s heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) expert for over 30 years.

“I don’t think there was anything on campus he couldn’t fix,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick also noted that the district has had to make many temporary appointments to fill the positions of 20 staff members currently out on maternity leave.