by Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
Manville’s next superintendent of schools should know residents feel the town is very closeknit and family oriented, according to comments at last week’s public session on the superintendent search.
The five-person turnout at the New Jersey School Boards Association’s public input session also had the residents attending asking NJSBA representative Gwen Thorton whether the turnout was normal.
”Did you expect more than this?” a North Seventh Avenue resident asked at the end of the meeting.
Ms. Thorton said attendance at the input sessions can vary, with some sessions drawing crowds and others only a few people.
Held Nov. 20 in the Weston School auditorium, the meeting’s goals included acquainting the public with the search process and timeline, clarifying the roles the board, staff, and community play in the selection process, and discussing the background, qualifications, and characteristics superintendent candidates should have.
”The board recognizes that as parents and residents, you have an interest in who the new superintendent is,” Ms. Thorton said as the meeting started. “…The information that you give me today will help the board create questions for the interview process.”
No board members attended the meeting, at Ms. Thorton’s request — open communication with the public is the goal, so the NJSBA asks the board to refrain from attending.
Though approximate, the timeline set up has a new superintendent in place prior to current Superintendent Donald Burkhardt’s June 31 departure, with the board interviewing and evaluating candidates in January, and submitting a contract to the Somerset County superintendent in February or March. Ms. Thorton stressed that the timeline dates are approximate, and can be shifted as necessary.
”I want to stress that this is a selection process, not a settlement,” Ms. Thorton said. “If at anytime we do not find an adequate candidate to serve the district, I will advise the board to re-advertise (the open position).”
Ms. Thorton led the discussion on Manville’s nuances, the issues facing the town and school system, and the qualities the new superintendent should possess.
According to residents — who asked to remain anonymous — meshing with Manville means understanding the tightknit community, as well as the concerns facing it.
”I could not get over the closeness of this community,” the North Seventh Avenue resident said. “It a very closeknit and family-oriented town. I think that’ s a very important aspect… We have a lot of people who were raised here, went to college, and came back home.”
Other residents seconded the position, noting the community’s involvement when residents need help, the district’s ability to retain its staff, and staff’s knowledge and connections with the students.
”They know personally who each of theses children are,” a North Bank Street resident said. “In Hillsborough or Bridgewater, the kids are just a number.”
Issues facing Manville include the possibility of a mandatory preschool, any potential expansion the district may face, and maintaining small class sizes.
With the possibility of a state-mandated preschool, and what parents called large classes, the possibility of having more students in the district had parents wondering how to compensate for a bigger population.
”We don’t know how many families are going to move into town,” the North Seventh Avenue resident said.
While the parents said Manville is small compared to other districts, class sizes have increased, causing the parents to wonder how the district would finance a school addition or new school.
”Clearly, you need to find someone with experience in finding other sources of revenue,” Ms. Thorton said, noting the parents’ desire to maintain small classes while keeping costs down.
Parents wanted a visible, approachable, and involved superintendent, they said. While the parents recognized the command chain for approaching the superintendent with concerns, and the scheduling conflicts that could prevent a superintendent from attending every school event, they wanted the superintendent who connects with students, staff, and the community.
One parent asked about internal position applicants; Ms. Thorton said position applicants would need the state-required certifications for consideration. Internal or external applicants would be given equal consideration, Ms. Thorton said.
Questions the public would ask a candidate included goals and how to attain them, expectations of district parents, the candidates’ opinion of the town, goals for the districts’ special needs program, which serves approximately 250 students; and how to address community tragedies through the school system.
Parents who could not attend the Nov. 20 meeting can fax or email their input to Ms. Thorton no later than December 1, at 609-695-1577 or [email protected].

