Parents, teachers discuss ideas for superintendent
Manalapan-Englishtown has started search for successor to Lally
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - A community forum was convened on Jan. 23 to glean from parents and staff members what they want in a school superintendent.

The forum that was held at the Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School is part of the ongoing process being implemented by the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education in order to find a successor to Superintendent of Schools Maureen Lally, who is retiring in June.

Cathy Weber, a field service representative for the New Jersey School Boards Association, which has been hired by the board to coordinate and vet prospective candidates for the position, told those gathered last week she was going to take their suggestions and present it to the board on Jan. 30.

A new superintendent is not expected to be hired until May.

Weber got an earful from the 20 or so people who attended the meeting, the majority of whom were district teachers. There were several PTA presidents and a handful of parents.

More than anything, everyone present agreed it is important that the new superintendent be willing to attend extracurricular activities.

Everyone also agreed that an important criteria for selecting a new superintendent is making certain that person is completely familiar with the requirements and ramifications of the federal No Child Left Behind Act so that the district remains in compliance with the law and does not realize sanctions that non-compliance can bring.

The teachers indicated they want someone who will make themselves familiar in the district's schools; and rub elbows with staff members and students, enough so that the superintendent knows all the names but lets the principals "run their own building."

Weber said the person who is hired will hold school administrator's certification or a certificate of eligibility thereof.

That comment drew a response from the teachers present who said it is important that the new superintendent will have "spent time in the classroom," meaning they want someone who not only has the credentials to be a superintendent, but someone who taught in a classroom at some point in their career.

One teacher said, "I want someone who's done it (taught in a classroom) before they start making policy."

They also agreed that a doctorate was not nearly as important as the fact that whoever is selected should be an individual who has kept current with their education.

The statement was made that the new superintendent should be someone who knows how to "delegate without micro-managing," and that the person should be someone who will "stand and be held accountable when things go wrong."

It was also the majority consensus that the new superintendent should be someone who will be able to rally parents and make them want to participate more in school events.

In fact, it was observed by one teachers that it is an unfortunate fact that in most cases, parents do not get involved "in the process until something is wrong. Then the room is packed to the rafters."

Weber asked those in attendance, "Do you pass your budget?" and was not heartened to learn that the last two budgets proposed by the board had been voted down. She said the appearance of community support for the district and its initiatives is necessary in order to draw good candidates to the position.

Teacher Vincent Farinella told Weber the budget issue was why it is important that whoever is hired should be someone with "holes in their socks." He explained that as meaning the new superintendent should also work assiduously to "chase down funding and grants."

The observation was also made that perhaps a jaundiced eye should be cast on someone who would be willing to leave their present district and come to Manalapan-Englishtown, that perhaps that might be an indication of a person's lack of commitment.

Weber countered by saying Manalapan-Englishtown is considered to be a "move-up" district, meaning that a person in a district where the budget cannot provide as competitive a salary may be persuaded to come and bring with them valued expertise and a teaching background as well as the needed commitment to the position of superintendent.

Also stated to be important in a new superintendent was a commitment to using technology to its greatest extent.

Parent Eric Gulotta said he would like to see communication improved by the administration; making better use of computers through the use of mass e-mail to inform parents of important events and emergency issues.

All agreed that at present one of the district's strengths is that the district enjoys good parent-teacher relationships. Those present said a new superintendent should also be a person would work to continue to build bridges between teachers and parents in an effort to prevent adversarial conditions from developing.