JAMESBURG — The Board of Education has formally accepted the resignation of its longtime business administrator, Thomas Reynolds, and appointed his successor.

Reynolds, who has served as adminis- trator and board secretary in Jamesburg for 12 years, will stay on as assistant business administrator until Aug. 31 in order to help his successor, Richard Kilpatrick, transition into the district.

Each will begin in their new role on May 1.

Kilpatrick will receive a contracted salary of $110,000, and his contract will run through June 2013.

The board accepted Reynolds’ resignation and Kilpatrick’s appointment at its March 22 meeting.

Board President Darren Larsen said the extraordinary financial challenges facing the school district necessitate the transition period.

“Our concern is with the district, and there has to be that transition,” Larsen said. “Our school district is such that you just can’t throw somebody into it.”

Reynolds agreed.

“This person has to be brought up to speed,” he said.

Reynolds announced his intentions to retire months earlier, and in September he voluntarily began working as a part-time employee with a salary that was reduced by $50,000.

Employing both Kilpatrick and Reynolds as an assistant business administrator will not cost the district due to Reynolds’ salary cut, officials said.

School officials considered eight to 10 candidates for Reynolds’ successor before choosing Kilpatrick.

Superintendent of Schools Gail S. Verona lauded Reynolds for his years of service to the district.

“I worked very personally with Mr. Reynolds for almost five years now and he has really given his heart and soul to this district,” Verona said. “He sometimes comes in on the weekends, he works very hard, making sure the kids of Jamesburg get the best they could get.

“I would like to wish Mr. Reynolds best of luck in his retirement,” she added.

After the meeting, Reynolds, who is mayor of Englishtown, Monmouth County, reflected on his career in Jamesburg, including the recent years marked by financial hardship.

“We got a lot accomplished in those 12 years,” he said. “It was a good time to work with the kids, keep programs going.

“There were very trying times over the last several years,” he added. “It’s a shame that we’re in this financial situation.”

In an email to the Sentinel, Sal Brucato, board vice chairman, praised Reynolds’ work ethic.

“Tom will be missed. He not only does the administrative work, but he also oversees the facility maintenance,” Brucato wrote.

“Tom is outspoken and pulls no punches, and when people are like that it gets mistaken as arrogance; however, he is genuine and will tell it like it is,” he added. “He has been a tremendous asset to the Jamesburg School District.”

Brucato deferred to Verona for background information on Kilpatrick. Verona did not respond to messages by press time.