Two principals to leave Janesville School District
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Marlene Novota
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Jay Pica
JANESVILLE — The Janesville School District will be looking for new principals to replace two who are leaving at the end of the school year.
Marlene Novota, Harrison Elementary School principal and former Franklin Middle School assistant principal, is taking early retirement, the district announced.
Jay Pica, principal of Kennedy Elementary School, is resigning at the end of the school year.
Novota has been with the district since 1995. She was at Franklin for eight years and spent another eight years as principal at Harrison.
Novota came to the district after 18 years of teaching middle school in the Kinnikinnick Public Schools in Roscoe, Ill.
Pica has been with the district since 2002. He was assistant principal at Marshall Middle School for seven years and will have completed two years as principal of Kennedy Elementary.
Pica taught previously in Oregon, Portage and Panama City, Fla.
"I am pursuing a position that will allow me to work closer to my home," Pica is quoted as saying. "This will allow me to participate more in my children's schools and sports activities. As an educator I know the importance of parent involvement in the lives of their children. I want to be able to give my children what I expect from the parents I work with."
Pica lives in Sun Prairie.
Superintendent Karen Schulte thanked both principals for their service. She noted Novota's contributions in the area of curriculum and instruction and Pica's expertise in math and curriculum.
The school board is expected to accept the resignation and retirement when it meets Tuesday.
The board also will accept the retirement of Ron Shuler, a math/reading teacher at Marshall Middle School, effective Jan. 21, 2011. Shuler will have served 29.5 years in the district.
Also on the board's agenda is the resignation of Rick Lehman, assistant principal at Parker High School, effective June 23. As previously reported, Lehman is losing his job because one-half of a position was cut at each high school for budgetary reasons and because of declining enrollments.
Dec 17, 2010 at 3:10 p.m.
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Is anyone else concerned with what is going on in the school district? Since the Studer reign began 3 years ago, (18 months for Schulte to join forces at the top!) we have lost through retirement, resignation, demotion or "investigation" many quality administrators in this district.
Evert, Salerno, Montagne, Hallenbach, Behn, Bunton, Porter, Kuehne, Schroeder, Dugal, Lindau, Walzack, Amiel, Masterson, Wilkens-Mann, Karges, Bender, Novota, Pica, Lehmann.
I have a feeling that this is not a complete list and more will probably be following shortly.
Not to mention the HUGE number of quality teachers were have lost in the same way........
Dec 15, 2010 at 4:37 p.m.
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Dr. Novota has done so much for Harrison Elementary. She goes above & beyond to offer her students the best opportunities possible, and stands by what she feels is right for her students. Her staff is exceptional, and my husband & I will be sad to see her go. As we have one heading to Marshall next yr and one still remaining @ Harrison, we can only hope that the next principal will be as dedicated as Dr. Novota has been. Best wishes to her!
Dec 14, 2010 at 7:13 p.m.
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Parker's math teacher and coach is Dave Lehmann. :)
Dec 14, 2010 at 6:45 p.m.
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No Gabby, That is a different Rick Lehmann.
Dec 14, 2010 at 3:29 p.m.
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Is Mr. Lehman the one who used to teach math at Parker? And coach volleyball?
Dec 14, 2010 at 11:33 a.m.
Dec 14, 2010 at 11:28 a.m.
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So sad to see Dr. Novota leaving Harrison! She has been wonderful! What a truly great role model to teachers and students. Those are going to be some mighty shoes to fill. You will be missed dearly Dr. Novota!!!
Dec 14, 2010 at 10:37 a.m.
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Ron Shuler sounds more right... He was my math teacher back in 88 at the old Marshall.
Dec 14, 2010 at 10:10 a.m.
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http://www.janesville.k12.wi.us/Staff/ta... lists his name as Ron Shuler. If the incorrect name came from a district document, shame on the district.
Dec 14, 2010 at 9:26 a.m.
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crazcass,
I believe that Monte Phillips, from Craig, will be handling both positions---his and Rick Lehman's. It's been stated that Mr. Phillips will be the athletic director for both schools and work half time at each school. I believe that's asking a lot from one person....but many teachers have been working splits for many years (Music teachers, Library specialists, and computer/keyboarding teachers).
Dec 14, 2010 at 8:20 a.m.
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So is the JSD going to give one of these jobs the the assistant principal that was cut at Parker?
Dec 14, 2010 at 7:54 a.m.
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More than 800 teachers in the district. Not sure the Gazette has enough newsprint to handle an update on all of them.
Dec 14, 2010 at 7:12 a.m.
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Like a "Where are they now" segment? : )
Dec 14, 2010 at 6:58 a.m.
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wish there was an update on teachers, it would be interesting to see whats up with them.. which ones have retired, which ones are still teaching.
Dec 14, 2010 at 6:57 a.m.
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Mr. Pica will be missed as well! My son just adores him -- and I am confident that Kennedy will acquire an equally awesome 3rd principle for the students!
Dec 14, 2010 at 12:32 a.m.
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Thank you Frank. My eldest daughter had him as a teacher, and I hoped I wasn't guilty of getting his name wrong all this time.
Dec 13, 2010 at 10:59 p.m.
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Marge, I'm sure Principal Novota is given credit for her years of teaching before she came to Janesville. Early retirement typically means the district provides health insurance to bridge the employee from the date of retirement to when Medicare starts. Janesville teachers have a similar benefit in their contract, but they have to accumulate enough unused sick days over their careers in order to trade those in for the early retirement benefit.
--Gazette reporter Frank Schultz
Dec 13, 2010 at 10:54 p.m.
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tibetrin, The district document says Richard Shuler, but an old district directory I have lists a Ron Shuler at Marshall. You're probably correct. I'll check it out.
-- Gazette reporter Frank Schultz
Dec 13, 2010 at 10:24 p.m.
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It's Ronald Shuler not Richard Shuler. The guy teaches in this town for 30 years and we cannot even get his name right.
Dec 13, 2010 at 6:34 p.m.
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What does "early retirement " mean? Does the person receive a pension after only 15 years in the district? and benefits? Just wondering what this entails.
Dec 13, 2010 at 5:56 p.m.
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I might be mistaken...but isn't Mr. Shuler's name Ron?
Dec 13, 2010 at 4:25 p.m.
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Rick it's sad what happened to you. Good luck hope you get something better soon. Novota Bye can't say I'm sad your leaving
Dec 13, 2010 at 4:13 p.m.
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I have had the pleasure of working with both Jay and Rick, and they are two outstanding educators. I hate to see our school district lose these two great men, and I wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Good luck to both of you.
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