State monitor rejects choice for school superintendent
Board votes to appeal decision
The district state monitor has reversed the Board of Education’s selection of Gregory Allen as the Asbury Park district superintendent of schools.
State Monitor Carole Morris made her decision public at the regular Board of Education meeting held Wednesday. Allen had been tentatively appointed in a 6-3 vote at the October 16 special meeting.
Reasons for the monitor’s decision include Allen’s lack of a recommendation from the New Jersey School Board’s Association [NJSBA], absence of a substantial background check or verification of information contained in his resume, and “material flaws” in the process by which the board selected Allen as a candidate.
Morris overturned all actions to appoint any candidate and suggested the board either reopen the search or start a new search after the reorganization meeting January 7.
“The selection of the superintendent is one of the most critical decisions a Board of Education is charged with,” Morris said. “While it is not the intention of the state monitor to select the next superintendent, the state monitor must oversee the process.”
Board Solicitor Kim Belin suggested the board make a motion to file an appeal of the decision, which in her view exceeds the monitor’s authority.
“There was a majority and it is your decision, and that decision should be honored,” said Belin.
The motion to file an appeal passed 6-2. Board members Kenneth Saunders, Jr., Arva M. Council, Christian Hall, Nicolle D. Harris, Felicia Simmons and Board Vice President Geneva Smallwood voted yes. Board President Angela Ahbez-Anderson and board member Barbara Lesinski voted no. Board member Qzeena Taylor was not present for the vote.
“I don’t think there is a question about my qualifications or my abilities,” Allen said. “The issue is whether [state department of education is] going to to empower board of education in urban areas. It’s just that simple. I identify with the community and the challenges that face the district, and quite frankly, I’m right for the district.”
According to a letter addressed to the school board, Morris stated the following as the reasons for her decision:
1. The district entered into a contract with the New Jersey School Boards Association [NJSBA] on April 1, 2013 to conduct a search for superintendent. NJSBA provided a list of approximately twelve candidates.
2. The candidate selected by the Board was not the subject of an independent review process, and I have been unable to find a substantial background check or verification of information contained in the candidate’s resume. To my knowledge, there was no visit to the work site of the candidate chosen.
3. The process for the selection of the superintendent had material flaws. In addition to the rejection of the recommendations of the NJSBA, the input from another independent source, the director of the Regional Achievement Center [RAC], was generally ignored.
4. The Board’s selection was not properly vetted within the Board itself. During the past six months there has been a revolving door of board members, some of whom have not had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful and comprehensive search process. Certain Board members had little input or understanding of the process. THere may have been a breach in executive session confidentiality whereby the candidate selected by the Asbury Park Board of Education received privileged information. On October 30, 2013 I was contacted by a representative from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office concerning a complaint filed on behalf of a Board of Education member related to sunshine law violations in conjunction with meetings that occurred relating to the selection of a candidate for superintendent. A tentative contract was negotiated and delivered to the Interim Executive County Superintendent for review and approval at a time that the Board entered in “lame duck” status due to the recent election.
5. During the interview process, the candidate selected by the Board did not demonstrate mastery knowledge of the topics. It is my judgement that he is not the best candidate for the position.
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