Plumsted administrators accept positions in Brick

Two administrators in the Plumsted school district will be leaving for new positions in Brick Township.

Richard V. Caldes, who spent the last two years as principal of New Egypt High School in Plumsted, has been selected by the Brick Board of Education to become the principal at Brick Memorial High School.

The board members tapped James W. Edwards Jr., who is the Plumsted school district business administrator, to become the Brick school district business administrator and board secretary.

The moves come as the Plumsted Board of Education is conducting a search for a new superintendent of schools. Gerald North, who has been the superintendent, is leaving the district to become the principal at Marlboro High School, Monmouth County.

The Plumsted board has named Vice Superintendent Christine Carlson as the district's interim superintendent of schools effective Aug. 13.

Caldes grew up in Brick Township and began his career in Brick. He spent 15 years in the school district as a teacher, guidance counselor and department head of guidance at Brick Township High School.

Caldes was the head coach of the Green Dragons' girls basketball team for 10 years and served as an assistant under Brick football coach Warren Wolf for 17 years.

"This is home for me and I'm looking forward to coming back," Caldes said at the July 12 board meeting. "One of the nice things is that after being in Brick and leaving, you realize how good this town is when you return."

Prior to his stint in New Egypt, Caldes spent four years as the assistant principal and athletic director at Point Pleasant Beach High School.

Caldes, who will be paid $118,163 annually, will earn a prorated salary of $93,054 for the 2007-08 school year. His first day at Brick Memorial is expected to be on or around Sept. 1.

Edwards has held the business administrator and board secretary positions for the Plumsted school district since 1999.

"I've had a good run in Plumsted and I'm excited about the challenges in Brick," said Edwards.

During his time in Plumsted, Edwards helped Plumsted withdraw from the Upper Freehold Regional School District (Allentown High School) and oversaw a number of construction projects including the building of a new middle school; the conversion of the existing middle school to a high school; the building of a new primary school; and major renovations and refurbishments to the district's elementary school, according to his résumé.

Edwards is the first vice president of the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials and has served as president of the Ocean County Association of School Business Officials and numerous other statewide committees.

Edwards, who resides in Whiting, will be paid $150,000 annually, but will receive a prorated salary of $118,125 for the 2007-08 school year. His hiring is effective on or before Sept. 13.