After three leaders in three years, Lower Merion’s new superintendent says he’ll be here ‘a long time’

As the Lower Merion school board approved a contract for new Superintendent Frank Ranelli on Monday, district officials highlighted the New Jersey schools leader’s resume, including the development of a diversity, equity, and inclusion department and revamping technology and security systems in his Piscataway Township district.

But they also emphasized the stability they hoped he would bring the top-ranked district, which has lost two superintendents in a row after about a year each in their jobs.

“We’re hoping for over five on this one,” said the board’s president, Kerry Sautner, at Monday’s meeting.

Ranelli, who takes over in April, marks the third superintendent Lower Merion has hired in a little more than three years: After joining the district in October 2021, Khalid Mumin left in January 2023 to become Gov. Josh Shapiro’s education secretary. (Mumin has since left Shapiro’s administration.)

Steven Yanni, who started as Lower Merion’s superintendent in August 2023, left the district in July to lead the Central Bucks School District.

The contract approved for Ranelli on Monday includes a $290,000 annual salary — the same as Yanni received his first year — and other terms similar to those given to the former superintendent, said Lower Merion’s solicitor, Kenneth Roos.

But, Roos noted, certain benefits will kick in only after Ranelli serves for five years, to “help ensure” his retention.

Addressing the board and members of the public after his contract was approved, Ranelli said he was “extremely excited to be here.”

“This is a very important role in the community, I understand that, and I’m ready to make that commitment to Lower Merion,” said Ranelli, who started his career 28 years ago as a special-education teacher, then became an administrator, including stints leading high schools in South Jersey.

After acknowledging the Piscataway schools — “my work home for 11 years” — Ranelli said, “I’m looking forward to Lower Merion becoming my work home for a long time.”

The school board also on Monday approved the hire of an acting superintendent to lead the district until Ranelli takes over in April. The district will pay a staffing agency $1,485 a day for Lawrence Mussoline, a former superintendent of the Haddonfield School District in New Jersey and the Downingtown Area School District in Chester County. Roos said it was common for districts to pay staffing agencies to hire retired administrators for temporary positions.

While Lower Merion has been led by acting Superintendent Megan Shafer since Yanni left, Shafer — whose official position is assistant to the superintendent for district administration — “suggested it would be best if she moves back to her role” rather than continuing to juggle additional responsibilities, Sautner said.

Some in the community questioned the logic, and price tag, of hiring an administrator until April. “I’m trying to wrap my head around this small three-month window and what it’s going to cost,” Crystal Blunt told the board.

District officials said it wasn’t known exactly how many days Mussoline would work. But, Sautner said, the district expects the cost of the new leadership will still come out to about $20,000 less this year than what the district would have paid had Yanni continued.

“Transitions are hard,” Sautner said. “We’ve all lived through three transitions in three years and it affects our kids.” The board favors “bringing more support on” to ease the process, she said. She added that, given Mussoline’s background leading New Jersey and Pennsylvania schools, he would be well-positioned to advise Ranelli on differences in the states' policies and practices.