Board of Ed to Vote on New Athletic Director

The Board of Education will vote on a resolution to appoint Alexis Korsak as the Director of Athletics and Supervisor of Physical Education.

A similar resolution appeared on the agenda for the board's Sept. 6 meeting but the vote was delayed until the Personnel Committee had a chance to meet. They endorsed her unanimously. She will begin her new role effective Jan 1, 2012.

Tom Belding, the president of the school board, said via email, "We were looking for someone who can help ensure that the overall phys ed and athletics program is important for all students in the district, not just those with a passion for sports. 

"[Korsak] brings great energy and dynamism to what she does. We feel she will strongly contribute to the high standards Chatham is proud of," Belding said.

Korsak will be Chatham's first female athletic director. She was selected from more than 90 candidates for the role. For the past eight years she worked at Roxbury High School, where she has been an assistant principal and the athletic director.

Belding said Korsak "was selected because of her clear passion for kids, and her appreciation for the role of physical fitness and athletics in education."

Korsak earned her bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education from Glassboro State College and a education master's and doctorate in Sports Administration from Temple University. She has also taken classes at Nova Southeastern University since 2008.

Chatham High School's current Athletic Director, Harvey Cohen, is scheduled to retire effective Dec. 31. Cohen worked at Chatham Township High School for 15 years before the borough and township regionalized their school districts in 1988 and he was named to the same position at Chatham High School.

Cohen also serves at the coach for the boys hockey team, a role he has played in Chatham for 38 seasons. He reached the state finals in 1976, 1995 and 1996. The team captured the state title in 2011.

Other Business

The board will also vote on two donations from Target's Take Charge of Education Program when they meet Monday night.

The program allows customers to choose a school to receive a percentage of purchases made with their Target store card.

will receive $405.83 and will receive $210.50, pending approval by the board.

The board will also vote on a donation to by the PTO to help with the beautification project that will add an outdoor patio for students with the school's initials in the landscaping. The total amount of the donation is $18,600.

A former donation from the PTO approved by the board on June 13, 2011 in the amount of $2,153 will also be amended to $1,968.25, pending the board's approval.

's PTO will also donate $2,200 for a new sign for the front of the school and $6,095 for an LED sign for the side entrance to the building.

Also on the agenda for Monday' meeting is a motion to approve the appointment of a Treasurer of School Moneys for the period of Oct. 1 through June 30, 2012 at a salary of $7,500, prorated to $5,625.

The board meets at the Monday at 7:30 p.m.