By PETE FONTAINE

Dr. Bernard DiLullo Jr., who has been Johnston’s superintendent of schools since 2010, last week received a two-year contract extension that becomes effective in July 2017.

“I’m thrilled that the School Committee has that kind of faith in me to grant the contract extension,” DiLullo said. “I really appreciate their trust and support.”

DiLullo, who along with his wife Donna has lived in Johnston for nearly three decades, was awarded the contract extension after a 3-1-1 vote at last Wednesday night’s committee meeting held inside the Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School library.

Janice Mele, who chairs the committee, joined members Robert LaFazia and Joseph Rotella in voting in favor of awarding DiLullo the contract extension. Lauren Garzone voted no, while Gena Bianco elected to recuse due to a conflict..

Meanwhile, DiLullo has one year and two months left on his current contract, which was for three years and expires next July. Under state law, no school official can have a contract for more than three years, meaning the school committee could only grant DiLullo the two-year extension.

“We wanted to extend his contract because he’s doing a good job,” LaFazia said. “We did not want to let him wait. We let him know we were going to extend his contract now … What I really like about Dr. DiLullo is that he’s from the town.”

DiLullo, who has worked in Johnston Public Schools for 11 years, began as the assistant principal at Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School in 2005. He became principal at Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary School in 2006, serving in that role until 2010. He was named Johnston’s superintendent in March 2010.

“It has been a pleasure working with all the fine educational professional in the district as well as the students and their families,” DiLullo said. “We have worked as a team that includes our school committee, mayor, and Town Council to move the school district forward. I look forward to my continued work with the school committee and thank them for their confidence in me.”

DiLullo holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, a master’s degree from New York University, and a doctorate from Johnson & Wales University.

DiLullo currently serves as vice chairman of the Regional Board of Superintendents for the Northern Rhode Island Collaborative, an educational organization that provides special education services for students and professional development opportunities for educational personnel.

DiLullo is also past president of the Rhode Island Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, an affiliate association that has a national presence in advocacy and training for education.

He also served on the Executive Board of the Rhode Island Association of School Superintendents representing the Northern Region of the state.