The Princeton Board of Education expects to name a new superintendent this fall, with the next schools chief taking over in January.
By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
The Princeton Board of Education expects to name a new superintendent this fall, with the next schools chief taking over in January.
Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, the search firm the board hired to look for the next leader of the district, has started recruiting candidates for the job, board president Timothy Quinn said Friday. He said the firm, in August, would present the board “with a slate of candidates, from which the board will select candidates to interview.”
Mr. Quinn said he felt it “premature” to say when interviews would occur. He said the board would do follow-up interviews with the finalists.
He said the board expects to name a replacement for current Superintendent Judith A. Wilson “as early as” October. The next superintendent’s appointment would take effect Jan.1.
On May 29, a representative of the search firm, Jamie Savedoff, provided board members the leadership profile for the next leader, drawn from community feedback the firm received. One concern raised is the ability to attract candidates given state-mandated salary cap on superintendent pay that is tied to district enrollment.
The maximum salary the next superintendent could receive is $165,000, plus $2,500 extra for having a high school. By comparison, Ms. Wilson earns around $224,890, and would have had to take a pay cut if she wanted to stay around for another contract
”Obviously, the cap and residency requirements are obstacles. However, the board does not view them as insurmountable obstacles,” Mr. Quinn said.
In his remarks, Mr. Savedoff emphasized the need for confidentiality in the process, as prospective job seekers do not want their current employers knowing they are looking for another job.
Ms. Wilson, appointed superintendent in 2004, announced in March her intention to retire before contract expires next summer. She is due to leave at the end of December. Mr. Quinn said nothing has changed about those plans.
”Judy will be superintendent in Princeton through Dec. 31,” he said.