take position in Pa.
Superintendent served
21/2 years in E.B.; had contract through 2006
By vincent todaro
& Brian donahue
Staff Writers
East Brunswick Superinten-dent of Schools Jamie P. Savedoff has announced he is leaving his position after accepting a job as superintendent of schools in Lower Merion, Pa.
The suburban school district has 6,598 students in 10 schools, a smaller district than East Brunswick, which has about 8,300 students in 11 schools.
Savedoff took office in East Brunswick in July 2000. His contract was extended by the Board of Education this past August to keep him with the district until June 2006.
Savedoff said yesterday that he had fully expected to live out the terms of that contract at the time it was renewed, but that he was sought out by school officials from the Pennsylvania district who presented an opportunity he could not overlook.
"I was not looking to leave, and I know a lot of people have expressed surprise about this, but it was as much of a surprise to me as it was to anyone," Savedoff said. "I had fully expected to live out my contract."
A consulting company hired by the Board of Education in Lower Merion approached Savedoff recently about the vacant position. After an interview process, the school board in Lower Merion selected Savedoff and announced recently it would be appointing him at a Jan. 6 meeting.
"I will be accepting the position," Savedoff said yesterday. "Their board has made the decision, but it is pending a final contract."
Savedoff, an educator of more than 30 years in various school districts, said he will be able to retire from New Jersey schools and collect a pension, while still earning a salary as superintendent in another state. That salary has not yet been determined. In East Brunswick, Savedoff was earning $172,500 this school year.
"I have one grown kid, and one in college, and this is just a good opportunity for me, a good financial move," he said. "I can retire in New Jersey and start a career in Pennsylvania."
"It’s terrific school district," he said, noting that he also likes the area, which is near Philadelphia.
Board of Education President Michael Baker said Savedoff informed him a week and a half ago that he was being considered for the job. He said school officials from Lower Merion came to East Brunswick recently to speak with people who worked with Savedoff.
Board Vice President Charles King said Savedoff’s contract has a clause indicating he must give the district 90 days notice before leaving, but that the board may not hold him to that entire period.
"Hopefully we can work something out that is mutually beneficial," King said.
Board members may decide to hire an interim superintendent, but that will depend on a number of factors, King said.
They were expected to meet tonight in closed session to discuss the issue.
Savedoff said he will miss East Brunswick. His years in the township have seen the defeat of two school budgets that became widely debated community issues. During his tenure, state aid to the school district has been frozen in the face of sharp expenses resulting from a rapidly growing student enrollment.
Still, Savedoff said he enjoyed this period in his career.
"It’s been an outstanding group of people to work with here," he said, "the best group of professionals I’ve ever worked with. It’s a great community with a lot of very supportive people, and a great staff. I’m sorry to leave East Brunswick at this time."
Savedoff said he did not know yet when his last day in East Brunswick would be, but said he would likely remain at his position through March.
Board members said they understood there were many reasons Savedoff wanted to take the job in Pennsylvania.
"This is an opportunity for a new challenge," King said. "It’s great for him. I wish him the best."
Schools are funded differently in Pennsylvania than in New Jersey, and school budgets — defeated annually in East Brunswick in recent years — are not voted on by the community in that state. Generally, school employees are also better compensated.
King noted that East Brunswick has seen many superintendents come and go with relatively short tenures with only a couple of exceptions, such as Dr. Jon Kopko who preceded Savedoff.
"I’m an optimist," King said. "Things happen and you turn the page. I think we’ll obviously have a new superintendent and move the district forward."