O.B. superintendent
accepts Oregon post
Daniel Rodriguez, hired in 1997, saw
a $66M bond
referendum through
Expressing well wishes and gratitude for his service, the Old Bridge Board of Education accepted the resignation of Superintendent of Schools Daniel Rodriguez during its meeting Tuesday.
The resignation is effective July 1.
Rodriguez notified board members and other district officials last week that he will be leaving the district to accept a position as schools superintendent in Oregon City, Ore., after the current school year ends.
According to district spokeswoman Lori Luicci, Rodriguez was officially offered the Oregon position on March 20.
Rodriguez, a California native, has made no secret of his desire to return to the West Coast to be closer to family members there, according to board Vice President Joan Bonk.
"Dr. Rodriguez was totally upfront with us from a couple of years ago. It’s not a surprise," Bonk told Greater Media Newspapers.
"I have nothing but well wishes for him," she added.
Rodriguez earns $145,000 yearly, Luicci said.
Old Bridge’s superintendent since July 1997, Rodriguez worked in an Oregon public school system for nine years before relocating to the East Coast. He came to Old Bridge after serving as superintendent of schools in Piscataway.
Board President Frank Weber noted Rodriguez’s influence in helping to formulate and attain voter approval of September’s $66 million school construction referendum. Weber said he regrets seeing Rodriguez go, but understands his reasons for wanting to leave New Jersey. He said the superintendent has no immediate family in the area.
"I wish him well," Weber said. He called Rodriguez "an integral part of the referendum process."
"I wish he would remain in place to see the fruits of the referendum through to completion that he helped formulate and get passed," he stated.
Bonk praised Rodriguez’s accomplishments during his tenure in the district and his visible presence in the schools.
"He has certainly made an impact on the district while he was here," Bonk said. "Anyone who can get two budgets and a referendum passed certainly has made contributions to Old Bridge."
Bonk also noted Rodriguez’s presence in the community, particularly in the form of community outreach meetings that the superintendent held on a regular basis.
"He was very visible in the schools from the first day on," Bonk said. "That was part of his original plan."
Because the board has accepted Rodriguez’ resignation, he is free to leave the district as of June 30, Weber said.
In an interview earlier this week, Weber suggested that the board begin discussing the criteria for hiring a new superintendent at its April 4 meeting. Candidates for the position should have three to five years of experience as a superintendent in a K-12 district and experience in seeing a construction referendum to completion, Weber said.
Weber would like to conduct a nationwide search for a superintendent holding those qualifications.
"We are the 14th largest district in the state, with over 10,000 students," Weber said.
Rodriguez had interviewed for a position in Albany, Ore., last year. After a job offer from that district failed to materialize, he chose to remain in Old Bridge to work with the district in its campaign to pass the referendum.