Plumsted board prepares for superintendent search

Plumsted Board of Education prepares to find a replacement for Superintendent Gerald Woehr.

By: Dana Lynn Flatekval
   PLUMSTED — Now that Superintendent Gerald Woehr has announced his plans to retire this summer, the district must select an experienced educator to replace him, a decision that it hopes to make by the spring.
   A representative from New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) came to Monday’s Board of Education meeting to discuss the process to replace Dr. Woehr, who announced his retirement plans Dec. 9 during a special school board meeting.
   "I am grateful to those that have helped me to be successful," Dr. Woehr said Monday. "I have way too much invested in this district to have it not succeed. Our children deserve only the best."
   NJSBA, an organization that provides services for school boards, does 80 percent of the superintendent searches throughout the state, said Francine Case, director of field services.
   Ms. Case said that in order to become a superintendent in New Jersey, a person must hold either a school administrator certificate or a school administrator certificate of eligibility.
   She said New Jersey superintendents do not earn tenure in their positions and so the Board of Education will have to be prepared to negotiate a contract for a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years.
   "We will provide the help and guidance for contracts, we will establish performance objectives and work with the board as much as possible," Ms. Case said. "We will help the board establish a positive working relationship."
   Ms. Case said the board must identify short- and long-term goals for the district and professional and academic credentials it wants the new superintendent to possess.
   NJSBA will help the district update the existing job description and prepare an advertisement, she said.
   "People who wish to apply for the position must complete a five-page application that is comprehensive," she said. "(New Jersey School Boards Association) puts specific issues in the application."
   The organization’s representatives then bring back three groups of applicants to the board — those who exceed the requirements, those who meet the requirements and others, she said.
   "We then help the board draft interview question, schedule interviews and sit through the interview process with them," Ms. Case said.
   She said the second round of interviews is more conversational and is used to determine who will be the best match for the district.
   Ms. Case said that by the end of April, the Board of Education will have identified the top candidate for the position.
   "Candidates’ names are held in complete confidence," Ms. Case said. "It is a very competitive market and the candidates want to make sure they are at the final stage before their name is released."
   Ms. Case said NJSBA will give the board as much information as possible so it can make a well thought-out decision.
   "I will do my very best to find the strongest match for this district," she said.
   Finally, the board will develop and institute a comprehensive evaluation for the superintendent that is chosen.
   Board President Herb Marinari said that throughout the process the community, teachers, staff and administrators will be involved.
   "We have made a commitment to this community," Mr. Marinari said. "We will provide you with a superintendent to be proud of."