Asbury schools reopen search for superintendent
In lieu of forming subcommittee, board will interview candidates as a whole
The Asbury Park Board of Education has re-opened the search for a district superintendent of schools.
An advertisement for the position was placed in a local newspaper Sunday, school board administrator Geoffrey Hastings said. The advertisement sets a May 20 deadline for applications.
Rather than form a selection committee to interview candidates, the board chose at a special meeting held Tuesday to interview candidates as a whole board in executive session. When the candidates are narrowed down to the final two or three, the board will commence conducting public interviews until they make their selection.
At a press conference held on the steps of Asbury Park High School Monday, members of the Asbury Park National Action Network [NAN]called for greater transparency in the selection process.
“We are asking that the interviewing process be conducted with transparency to insure its integrity,” said Duane Small, president of the local NAN chapter, in a prepared statement. “This is a major concern within our community. We insist that the process must be open to insure the entire Asbury Park community has confidence in the results.”
“The community is calling for [transparency],” said Felicia Simmons, a member of the board of education and secretary of the local NAN chapter. “It should be in public and it should be done by the board as a whole and as transparent as possible.”
The position has been vacant since former Superintendent Denise Lowe left the position at the end of the 2012-2013 school year. The district voted not to renew Lowe’s contract in November 2012.
Robert Mahon was appointed as the district’s interim superintendent in June of last year at a rate of $605 per day. His term, which was set to be up in November of last year, has been extended multiple times.
State Monitor Carole Morris reversed the board’ s selection to have Gregory Allen head up the district in October. A majority of board members voted to appeal the decision on the grounds that Morris overstepped her authority as a state fiscal monitor. An administrative law judge denied the board’s request for an expedited decision in the case. The matter is still pending, and a July 22 court date is scheduled, according to board attorney Alan J. Schnirman.
“We were trying to negotiate through the process and couldn’t resolve it,” said Board President Geneva Smallwood.
Smallwood hopes to have the position filled by July.
“I want to get someone in there as quickly as possible,” she said.
————————————————————
Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook and Twitter.
