By Jessica Ercolino, Staff Writer
PLUMSTED —The district is hoping to appoint a new high school principal at its Oct. 22 meeting, Superintendent Mark DeMareo said last week.
The 13 remaining candidates for the permanent New Egypt High School principal position underwent extensive interviews last month.
Elizabeth Panella currently holds the high school principal position as an interim employee. She said she is not eligible to fill the position because she is retired and took the position on a “help-out” basis.
The candidates, were selected from an original pool of 59 applicants and interviewed by a screening committee consisting of administrators, staff, parents and students.
In addition to a standardized 10-question interview, candidates were given 24 hours to complete a questionnaire. Dr. DeMareo said the document focused on the candidates’ knowledge relative to the Plumsted School District and asked in what ways the person has “enhanced professional abilities” of new and experienced teachers, dealt with difficult decision-making situations, handled appropriate academic placement of students and more.
”As you can see, the candidate will have strong knowledge of being an educator, understanding of the issues here in the Plumsted School District and strong knowledge of written communication,” Dr. DeMareo said.
Following the interview process, members of the screening committee submitted their comments and what they believed were the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, but the superintendent said last week he had not yet had a chance to review them.
The district recently filled two positions being held by interim employees: Dr. DeMareo and Robert Burkhardt, the new Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School principal, were appointed by the board this summer. The NEHS principal vacancy came in summer 2007 when Principal Richard Caldes left during what parents viewed as a wave of resignations that year.

