The South Brunswick Board of Education responded to a member of the public Monday night, assuring the residents that the panel will work hard to find a new schools superintendent.
By Ed Birch, Special Writer
The South Brunswick Board of Education responded to a member of the public Monday night, assuring the residents that the panel will work hard to find a new schools superintendent.
Dr. Gary McCartney, who has held the post for the last 10 years is retiring in June. Melissa Katz, a 19-year-old Monmouth Junction resident who is a freshman at the College of New Jersey in Ewing, questioned the board about the selection process Monday night.
”How will the South Brunswick Board of Education insure that the present situations in Highland Park and Montclair will not happen in South Brunswick?” Ms. Katz asked. “In both cases, the New Jersey School Boards Association (which South Brunswick has hired to assist in the search and recruitment) recommended the candidates who were eventually selected.”
She said she witnessed the Highland Park controversy first-hand and did not want to see a similar situation in South Brunswick.
”I am a journalism student, who is very concerned about educational issues in my township” said Ms. Katz. “I just attended the Highland Park Board of Education meeting immediately before this meeting in South Brunswick.”
She said a large number of people walked out of that meeting due to the staff and community in Highland Park feuding with the present superintendent.
The district confirmed published reports that Superintendent Timothy Capone led a Reduction in Force effort within the district that included laying off high-ranking union officials. The community is labeling this action as “union busting.”
In responding to the question, Dr. McCartney reminded Ms. Katz that he felt that 10 years ago, the board made a good decision on who was eventually hired.
”The board is very astute and is well aware of the issues facing public education in New Jersey and our district.” Dr. McCartney said. “The board has taken the first step by hiring a search firm. The board will also solicit community feedback on the process. The board ultimately will make the final decision after they have reviewed all candidates that are presented by the search firm. In my 10 years of working with this board, they have proved to be a very hard working organization.”
In summarizing his opinion, Dr. McCartney commented “just because other districts have had problems, we do not anticipate any problems in this recruitment.”
”We solicited proposals from three search firms and had a subcommittee review and recommend a firm. The full board then interviewed the search firm before hiring. We have started the process, which will include an opportunity for community members to provide input,” Board President Stephen Parker said in a statement released after the meeting. “That opportunity should come in early January. It will be announced in the same way that we announce all board meetings. One of the principle tasks of a school board in New Jersey is to hire a superintendent and this board takes that task seriously.”
He also said that the board and community have a good relationship and is looking forward to hear the public’s opinion on a candidate.
”We value input from both the community and staff but ultimately the responsibility lies with the board,” he said. “While we would like to make the process as transparent as possible there is a need for confidentiality for all applicants. While we are aware of some issue in other districts we feel that in South Brunswick we have not only good relationships between the board and community, board and staff, board and administration, but also a unity among the board that will help this process reach a successful conclusion.”