Jamesburg to look at superintendent candidates

   JAMESBURG — The Jamesburg school board will discuss the candidates for superintendent Monday.

By: Matthew Rick
   JAMESBURG — The Jamesburg school board will discuss the candidates for superintendent Monday.
   The board will hold a presentation of the 19 applicants for the position at 7:30 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy School.
   The district has been contacted by about 40 people who are interested in the position, currently held by Shirley A. Bzdewka, who will resign at the end of June.
   Board President Donald Peterson said he is pleased with the list of hopefuls.
   "There are some quality candidates," said Mr. Peterson at the board’s Feb. 22 meeting.
   The school board has worked with the New Jersey School Boards Association to find a replacement since Ms. Bzdewka announced her retirement in early October. Ms. Bzdewka earns an annual salary of $115,000.
   Board members hope to interview two to five of the most qualified candidates for the position and make its final decision by the end of June.
   The NJSBA is being paid $6,000 for its services, said School Business Administrator Tom Reynolds, half up front with the rest being paid after the search process has been completed. In addition, the NJSBA will review resumes and help narrow the candidate pool.
   The NJSA met with faculty, community members and school board members to develop a list of requirements for a new schools chief. Those requirements include experience working as both a teacher and principal, a willingness to accept staff input, strong disciplinary skills, and support for extracurricular opportunities and staff development programs that allow teachers to improve their skills.