The school district’s business administrator, Robert Finger, has abruptly resigned, saying he will return to the district he previously worked. In a letter to the superintendent and Board of Education president, Finger said he is leaving after a 60-day notice, according to board members. Finger said he has accepted a job in the Teaneck school district.
The resignation, which Finger confirmed today, will take effect Nov. 19. Finger served as administrator in Lakewood for the past three years and has been credited with turning around a business office plagued with inefficiency and misspending. His reasons for leaving Lakewood are yet unclear. Board President Leonard Thomas suggested that the board had been putting “unwarranted” pressure on Finger. Read more in APP.
In the video posted here a few weeks ago where Sietler was going through the agenda item by item, it was clearly apparent that Finger was unhappy. Watch his responses to Seitler & the other board members re: the manpower reduction report he was asked to prepare. They are quite telling. I would venture that he was unhappy having his professional credibility (inadvertantly, perhaps) questioned by (what he views as) a bunch of young kids who hole their seats by virtue of electoral oddity rather than any experience or qualifications. I’m guessing that the board will find this position very hard to fill with a truly qualified candidate.
I have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Finger on several occassions.
A true professional and super mentch.
His resignation is a big loss for Lakewood.
when you treat people with disrespect, things like this happen
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Sorry to see such a intelligent person leave the position as Mr. FInger is doing, however, he is smarter than everyone thinks.
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He was smart to get out before it all comes down on his head. It certainly isn’t due to salary, he did quite well here.
You have to work on proper titles.
This Board should be ashamed of its self on the way they act so unprofessional who are you going to get to apply for this job. It will have to be someone that has a remembering problem that has never heard of Lakewood, NJ before. Bob knew his stuff, I worked with him but the Board only wanted to hear what they wanted to hear as to old saying goes. Teaneck will be a piece of cake for him after his time served in Lakewood.
Another nail in the coffin for the Lakewood school sysytem,
Bob was a good person and a fine BA. The way he was treated by his co-workers it’s amazing he lasted 3 years. Hopefully we can find a replacement who can think on his own
when people start serioulsy looking into why the lakewood school budget is out of control we will need Bob to explain. He is very good at what he does. Lakewood will miss him, so will the attorney
This resignation marks the fifth BA, along with five superintendents, to come and go at the Lakewood School District in a little over five years. Check it out. There is not another school district in the entire country with such a dismal turnover record. Who is dismantling this school district and why?? What are these professionals being asked to cover-up that makes them flee? The Board is trying to get answers to these questions. Give them credit.