Thomas A. Smith, the assistant superintendent of schools for the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
The front-running candidate to be the next Hopewell Valley superintendent of schools is on the local scene today.
He is Thomas A. Smith, the assistant superintendent of schools for the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District. Like Hopewell Valley, that district has long enjoyed the reputation of being among the academically strongest districts in New Jersey.
Interim Hopewell Valley Superintendent Thomas F. Butler said Tuesday that Dr. Smith was scheduled to meet with Hopewell Valley staff and parents today, March 5.
The Hopewell Valley school board endorsed Dr. Smith last week as the Valley’s next superintendent, district spokeswoman JoAnn Meyer said Tuesday.
Dr. Smith is one of 24 candidates for the position, filled on an interim basis by Dr. Butler since last August when former Superintendent Judy Ferguson retired.
Dr. Smith is expected to spend this morning meeting principals and supervisors as well as PTO leaders and representatives of local foundations and the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance.
In the afternoon, he is scheduled to tour the district’s six schools and meet with a group of students at Central High School. He also plans to meet with leaders of the Hopewell Valley Education Association (teachers union) and other bargaining groups.
Interested members of the public will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Smith tonight at 6:30 at the district’s administration building, 425 S. Main St., Pennington.
Following today’s planned visit, a team of Hopewell Valley representatives plans to visit West Windsor-Plainsboro to speak with teachers and administrators there. Dr. Smith, a resident of Upper Freehold Township, has served as West Windsor-Plainsboro’s assistant superintendent for pupil services and planning since November 2005.
Of the 24 applicants for Hopewell Valley’s highest position, nine were selected by the board for interviews; three were invited back for second interviews.
Formal board approval of Dr. Smith could come as early as the March 16 board meeting, said Mel Myers, president. Also scheduled for that meeting is adoption of the tentative school budget for 2009-10.
A March 16 approval of a new superintendent would put the board on track of its own schedule for naming Dr. Butler’s successor.
Last fall, school board officials said they would like to hire the new schools chief by mid-March to take advantage of the prime hiring season for new superintendents. The schedule allows the new superintendent to finish up projects under way in his district by the end of this school year before making a fresh start in Hopewell Valley.
If approved, Dr. Smith would begin work in the Valley by July 1.

