Business Administrator Dana Sullivan Leaving Montclair School District

Longtime Montclair Public Schools Business Administrator Dana Sullivan will replace Vincent Yaniro as the business administrator in the Westfield school district on Sept. 1, according to an announcement made by Superintendent Margaret Dolan at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Tuesday night was the final board meeting for Yaniro, who is retiring in August. The former Chatham school official after his was abruptly removed due to having corruption charges brought against him.  

Sullivan, a certified public accountant and licensed public school accountant, has been the business administrator of the Montclair School District—which is comparable in size to Westfield's—for 15 years. Dolan, who served on the team that interviewed Sullivan and other candidates, commended Sullivan’s performance throughout the process.

“There was not one question we put forward that Dana was not able to answer comprehensively,” Dolan said.

As administrator, Sullivan will assist Dolan in preparing and administering the annual school budget. She will also serve as the board’s official purchasing agent, ensure proper maintenance with auditing requirements and tax laws, and supervise several levels of district personnel and business operations.

In Montclair, Sullivan has been key in the management of the district's finances.

At last week's Montclair school board meeting, it was Sullivan, for example, who explained that the district would boast another strong surplus this year.

The Montclair district also is searching for a new superintendent to replace Dr. Frank Alvarez as well as a new principal for Mount Hebron Middle School.