Lambertville Public School is debating whether to hire a new superintendent or hire a principal and share a superintendent with another district.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE Lambertville Public School’s interim superintendent has been on the job for barely two months, but parents and teachers have seen enough to know they want plenty more of what Madeline Gavin has given them.
The Board of Education hired Mrs. Gavin in October after Richard Wiener resigned to take the superintendent’s job in Delaware Township. Since then, a group of about two dozen parents and teachers said Mrs. Gavin’s skills have made a huge difference to the elementary school. She is exemplary in the areas of communication, leadership, decision-making and visibility, they told board members last week.
The school can retain an interim superintendent for two years. In the meantime, the board must decide whether to keep the district’s administrative structure the same with only a superintendent at the helm or to share a superintendent with another school district while hiring a principal to oversee the building.
Parents and teachers said they want whoever is hired to give them what Mrs. Gavin has. Even if it takes the added expense of paying the salary of a new principal, they told the board they want to see that option explored.
The board agreed to investigate the possibility before returning for more discussion with parents and staff during a meeting scheduled for Dec. 20.
"I think the board pretty much shares your sentiments. We need a leader," said board President David Moraski. "This is a unique opportunity we have right now. We need to seize it and do it the right way."
The salary for a principal could total between $80,000 and $90,000, and the district also would incur the cost of paying for shared superintendent services, according to Diane Morris of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
The board shied from discussing the financial aspect.
"We need to find out what we need in the district from a leadership point of view, then we’ll address the finances," Mr. Moraski said.
Several parents said they’d like to see the school share the services of a superintendent with South Hunterdon Regional High School.
Douglas Coleman, president of South Hunterdon’s Board of Education, said it would be "premature" to comment on the prospect of sharing a superintendent because Lambertville had not approached South with an offer yet.
Parent Kathryn Hall said board members should take all the time necessary to find the right person, no matter which route is chosen. She characterized the atmosphere before Mrs. Gavin arrived as "kind of like being in a bad marriage."
She explained, "It was on the rocks for a while."
She doesn’t want the board to enter into a rebound relationship and risk possibly hiring the wrong person. She called last week’s discussion with the board and Ms. Morris "cathartic."
"There’s not a reason to rush nor should they," Ms. Morris said.
She recommended a "slow and methodical exploration and a step-by-step clear understanding of expectations."
If the board takes its time in arriving at a decision, the elementary school won’t suffer, parents and teachers agreed, because of Mrs. Gavin’s strengths. Her reign, although short, already has shown positive results, they said.
"There’s been a lot of excitement in the building," said sixth-grade teacher Michale Johnson. "It’s just a whole different atmosphere," which she said was "inspirational."
"This has been probably one of the best years my children have had here," said parent Karen Conlon.
Other members of the staff lauded Mrs. Gavin’s communication skills, her ability to lead and make decisions and her visibility to students.
Mrs. Gavin retired in 2000 as superintendent of the East Amwell Township School District. She noted it’s possible for one person to fulfill the administrative duties of superintendent while also overseeing the school’s daily life as a principal would. She performs both sets of tasks now for Lambertville, and she performed them previously in East Amwell.
It isn’t easy, and there are drawbacks, according to Mrs. Gavin.
"I did myself in," she said.
Also, "teachers get less of you when you get both responsibilities. You can do it, but you’re basically putting out fires."
In her former job, she said she "ran from building to building to do it all."
She recommended, "If you had your druthers, I’d focus on the principal, but you also need the superintendent."
Several parents named South Hunterdon Superintendent Lisa Brady as someone they’d like to hire to oversee Lambertville in a shared services agreement.
However, Ms. Morris cautioned that identifying individuals by name would be inappropriate. A contract with another district would not name a specific person, she said, because if Ms. Brady were to some day leave South, the contract between the districts still would exist.
"That exit strategy should be dealt with in the original agreement between the two boards," Mr. Moraski said.
Board member Steve Williamson said, "You come to a mutual agreement should this sequence of events happen. It should be contractually spelled out."