Divided board extends
superintendent’s pact
James Wasser granted
FRHSD contract
running through 2006
In a vote that split the members of the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education, a majority of the panel has approved a contract extension for the superintendent of schools.
The board’s vote in the early morning hours of March 19 sparked comments of impropriety as to the timing of the action.
The new contract approved for James Wasser will run through June 2006.
"This board has always treated its employees from the superintendent on down, to any other employee, very fairly," Wasser said. "I think it’s a very fair contract."
Wasser said his concern is that the majority of the board made a commitment for him to lead the district in a positive direction, as he said it had been done in the past.
"It makes it easier for me as superintendent to deal with some of the issues, redistricting and the budget and other things that come up, whether it’s building another high school or (some) other crisis that has to be dealt with within the district," he said.
The superintendent said he rests on his past performance.
"The district has moved forward and I think the majority of the board would say that," Wasser said. "I feel really good about our accomplishments."
Teresa Rafferty, public information coordinator for the district, said Wasser’s contract renewal follows a three-month evaluation process of the superintendent by the board. The board was assisted in the process by representatives of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Rafferty said the process involved a review and assessment of district-wide goals, an analysis of executive leadership skills and a conference between board members and the superintendent.
Board President Patricia Horvath said, "The board wishes to ensure the continued leadership of Mr. Wasser in the district. There are several major issues facing our six high schools and Mr. Wasser’s experience, energy and familiarity with communities in our region are important factors in the board’s confidence in him."
The process of renewing Wasser’s contract took shape at the end of a meeting that began in the early evening hours of March 18 at Colts Neck High School. The board went into executive session at 11:15 p.m. after completing the items on the meeting’s agenda. Horvath said the board might take action after the executive session.
Bonnie Rosenwald, a Marlboro resident who is a candidate for the board in the April 16 school election, said, "In the dead of the night, at approximately 1:20 a.m., the board came out of executive session and (board member) Terry Kraft of Howell