Melina Skwarek recently took on the role of business administrator in the Margate schools.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – Melina Skwarek has worked for years to get the job as business administrator for a local school district. The Margate Board of Education last month appointed her to the position vacated by former Business Administrator Jennifer Germana, who left the district April 30 for a similar position in the much larger Egg Harbor Township school district where she lives.
Since Germana left, the district’s former longtime business administrator, Susan Palaia has been filling in on a temporary basis, and will assist Skwarek when needed.
Skwarek, 35, had just accepted a position as assistant business administrator in another district, when she saw the posting for the BA job in Margate.
“This is what I have been working toward for many years, so I decided to apply for it,” she said Thursday morning. “And now, I’m very excited to be here.”
Skwarek presided over her first Margate City Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening and said the board was very gracious.
The Manahawkin resident started her business career in sales and hospitality before transitioning to technology sales, which she said she found “intriguing.”
After giving birth to her first child, a daughter now 5 years old, she realized the being on the road selling technology was not conducive to being a mother, so she sought other options that would be more suitable, she said. She now has a second child, a son, 3 years old.
Her first introduction to the field of education came in the main office of a local school district where she served as an administrative assistant for the superintendent, director of special services and the business administrator. The job led her to the business office where she became involved in accounts payable and grants management.
She returned to school and obtained a master’s degree in accounting from Kean University graduating in January this year. She also took several government courses offered by Rutgers University to become a public purchasing agent. She has one more class to go before becoming certified, she said.
Skwarek started working in Margate on July 1 and is digging into the role she worked toward for many years.
“There a lot of projects going on here, and I’m looking forward to facilitating all these projects moving forward. My goal here is to help make things more streamlined for the different departments,” she said.
Skwarek said she is learning the culture of the school district and can see that her associate administrators, teachers, staff and board members are totally dedicated to providing the best for the children of Margate.
“It’s obvious that the top priority for the district is to make sure the students and staff have everything they need to ensure a great education for the students of Margate,” she said. “I’m looking forward to providing that kind of support as well.”
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