Ravine Drive Elementary changes principal after a long leave

What happened

Ravine Drive Elementary School's principal went on paid medical leave from September 2025, had it extended repeatedly through the year, and retired on May 31, 2026. The assistant principal of Matawan Regional High School, Lorena Carbajal, was moved to Ravine Drive as assistant principal in September 2025 to cover, was made acting principal from May 1, 2026, and on June 15, 2026 was appointed permanent principal at $176,500. An interim assistant principal was appointed at the high school in January 2026 to cover the post Carbajal left, and in June the board appointed Josh Aronowitz as the high school's assistant principal in charge of athletics. The same June meeting created three new director-level posts in a central-office reorganisation.

Why it matters to families

Ravine Drive families spent most of a school year without a permanent principal, and the person now in the job came from a different school and worked up through acting roles. The high school also changed assistant principals twice in the same period, which matters for the staff member families deal with over discipline and attendance.

The evidence

The December 15, 2025 minutes record the Ravine Drive assistant-principal reassignment covering the principal's medical leave; the March 9, 2026 minutes approve the principal's retirement effective May 31, 2026; the May 11, 2026 minutes upgrade Carbajal to acting principal from May 1; the June 15, 2026 minutes appoint her permanent principal at $176,500 and appoint Josh Aronowitz assistant principal in charge of athletics at the high school from September, alongside three new director roles effective July 1.

The source