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The Asbury Park Board of Education voted to appoint Gregory Allen to the top position in the district, this time in an interim role.

Board member Christian Hall made a motion to appoint Allen as the district’s interim superintendent, board member Felicia Simmons seconded the motion. The vote passed 5-2.

Board President Geneva Smallwood, Vice-President Nicolle D. Harris and board members Hall, Kenneth Saunders and Felicia Simmons voted yes. Board members Angela Ahbez-Anderson and Barbara Lesinski voted no. Board member Connie Sue Breech abstained from the vote. Board member Corey Lowell was not in attendance at the meeting.

Hall contends Allen was never “given a proper chance” and that the interim position would enable him to prove his work ethic and ability to lead the district forward for both the district and the state to vet. Conversely, if Allen does not meet the challenges of the district they can replace him.

Allen served at the assistant superintendent of schools in Pleasantville from 2004-2009. Prior to that he served in several administrative positions in Camden, Franklin and Willingboro school districts. Since 2009, he has been self-employed through his own educational consulting firm.

State Fiscal Monitor Carole Morris, who has final say on all of the district’s personnel and fiscal matters, will review the selection and make a decision on whether the appointment will hold by Monday.

At the request of  Brother John Muhammed, of the Neptune Nation of Islam, Morris has agreed to meet with the city’s African-American leadership to discuss the search for a permanent superintendent before she makes a final decision on the reversal.

“We’re tired of this circus as related to the superintendent,” Muhammed said.

Muhammed said the African-American leadership in the city wants to see a strong leader in the position and the state’s constant undermining of decisions a majority of the board is in favor of is patronizing.

“This is not a slave plantation and they are not our masters,” he said.

A majority of the board previously voted to hire Allen as the district’s permanent superintendent, but the decision was reversed by Morris causing members of the public to verbally lash out against her reversal.

The board voted to reopen the search in May with the initial intent to conduct the interview and selection process themselves, but has since decided to work with the New Jersey School Board’s Association in the effort, Smallwood said.

Morris believes there is problem with the board’s process as it relates to the decision, since the item was not listed on the evening’s formal agenda.

“A segment of the board had no idea it [the vote] was going to happen,” she said.

Lesinski alleged at least five board members knew the vote was going to take place prior to the meeting, which she believes is a violation of the state’s Sunshine laws, she said.

Smallwood said a discussion of personnel issues was noticed and placed on the agenda for the special meeting.

“We have two key administrative positions in the district that need to be filled, a curriculum director and a superintendent,” Smallwood said. [Allen’s] resume was good, his work ethic was good, he has the credentials.”

Current interim super Robert Mahon gave notice he would be leaving the district effective July 31. Mahon has served as the interim superintendent for just over a year. The position has been vacant since former Superintendent Denise Lowe left at the end of the 2012-2013 school year when the district voted not to renew her contract in November 2012.

If there is one thing the district needs, it’s to establish stability and leadership, Mahon said.

“For me, in an interim role, which is an indefinite position, one year is too long,” he said.

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