Freehold's Outgoing Schools Chief Celebrated With New Bike Rack

FREEHOLD, NJ — One beloved superintendent for the Freehold Borough School District has resigned for a different position at Rutgers University. But the district is seeing the return of another beloved superintendent, Rocco G. Tomazic, as an interim.

Joseph Howe, Ed. D., came to the district over 10 years ago as a business administrator, said Jean Holtz, president of the Freehold Borough Educational Foundation. He has served as superintendent since Tomazic's retirement from the district in 2021.

So the district will still have a familiar feel when school resumes.

The district will also have a new bicycle rack for students to use in this walkable school district in honor of Howe.

"The foundation wanted to recognize his on-going support for our programs and numerous efforts to provide additional educational opportunities for the students in our community. As such, we will be commemorating Joe's time here in Freehold Borough by presenting the district with a new bicycle rack and special signage," said Holtz of the gift from the foundation.

She said the bike rack recognizes the district's "bicycle education program, Joe's fondness for it, and the school's need for additional bike storage."

The district helps students in fourth grade learn how to ride a bike if they don't already know - and how to ride safely if they do. The borough schools are all walkable, Holtz said, so students often ride bikes and the racks are packed with students' bicycles.

The new equipment was presented June 26 in front of the Park Avenue Elementary School and was a surprise to the superintendent.

"For the first time, Joe told me he was actually speechless," said Holtz.

Downtown Freehold also is presenting Howe, of Middlesex County, with a number of gift certificates from local restaurants for him and his family to enjoy.

And the Freehold Police Department also posted about the former superintendent.

"Chief Craig Dispenza and the officers of the Freehold Borough Police Department thank Dr. Joseph Howe, Superintendent of the Freehold Borough School District, for his service to the community," the post said on Wednesday.

"We wish you the best of luck at your new position at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. We will always be appreciative of the continuous efforts put forth by you and your staff to open the doors to our officers, while assuring a positive working relationship with the Freehold Borough Police Department."

Howe has already started his new senior administrative position at Rutgers University. According to his LinkedIn site he is Senior Director of Finance & Administration, Rutgers Graduate School of Education in New Brunswick. Howe will oversee the school’s budget, finance, human resources, information technology, and facilities operations.

Howe completed his Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy at Seton Hall University, where his research focused on the delivery of healthcare services in schools. He also holds a master’s in finance from Rider University and is a certified public accountant.

When Howe was named the superintendent in 2021, the district noted his successes in the borough district:

"Under the leadership of Dr. Tomazic, Howe played an integral role in helping to address critical funding and facilities issues for our schools,” district officials said.

“During his time in Freehold Borough, Dr. Howe oversaw a facilities expansion of 50,000 square feet of space for students, assisted in the addition of over 40 new positions to the faculty and staff, and helped to secure a state funding increase of approximately $10 million, nearly doubling the district’s state aid,” according to the press release in 2021.

Tomazic, Ed. D., has been deeply involved with the school district ever since his retirement, particularly in the extremely generous scholarship program he and a friend have established for the borough.

Now in its second year, the program just awarded four students who are graduates of the Freehold Borough School District a total of $340,000 in financial support for their high school and post-secondary education through the Tomazic Family Scholarship.

The scholarship program was established last year by the former schools superintendent with the assistance of the Foreside Foundation.

“I am honored to work with Richard and Linda Berthy of the Foreside Foundation,” said Tomazic. “They have joined the positive Freehold story in a meaningful way, providing significant amounts of financial assistance to support the success of our students. They have made a difference.”

The Tomazic Family Scholarship was established in 2022 to build on the work of Tomazic as superintendent. The Foreside Foundation, registered in Maine, became involved through a personal connection with Tomazic.