Kinnelon Begins Superintendent Search

The search for a new superintendent is underway with help from the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA).

Current Superintendent James Opiekun at the Kinnelon Board of Education's November meeting. On Thursday, Joanne Borin of the NJSBA presented a timeline to the board members for when ads will be placed for candidates, and interviews will begin, as well as inquired about the characteristics board members would like their new superintendent to possess. According to Borin, the district should have a new superintendent selected by May 1.

Board Vice President Keith Dama said the board opted to have NJSBA assist with the process. Borin said that included are opportunities for district administrators and staff to voice their opinion on what the new superintendent should be like, as well as an opportunity for the public to contribute during scheduled meetings. The board tentatively set at date of Jan. 5 for administrators to meet with NJSBA, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. for NJSBA to meet with the community (not during a scheduled board of education meeting) and Jan. 16 for all staff members to meet with the representatives of NJSBA.

Additionally, fliers will go out advertising the community meeting.

Borin said the board should advertise the position in The Star Ledger, which she said is the newspaper of record for education issues in the state, on Jan. 8 and Jan. 22 so that prospective candidates have the opportunity to review it. Requests for applications for the position must be in by Feb. 3 and the deadline for submitting completed applications will be Feb. 17, she said.

In early March, the board will once again meet with Borin to discuss the candidates who apply.

"I will bring in a box with all of your applications in it and we will go over all of them," she said.

The board will work with Borin to develop an "A list," "B list," and "C list" of first, second and third choices based on which criteria each candidate meets. During the two-hour meeting, the board will decide which candidates to bring in for an interview and up to nine candidates will be asked to participate in in-person interviews.

"We want the whole board involved," Borin said. "This is the most important decision you'll be making."

Borin said it is important to follow this timeline, as she has seen other districts wait and not have a new superintendent until into the new school year.

In preparation for the advertisement, Borin asked the board to describe characteristics they would like to see from their new superintendent. Borin read a few traits and asked the members to rate which were most important to the Kinnelon school district.

She asked if curriculum development should be an area of expertise.

"We have a curriculum director so I don't think that's as pressing as some of the others," Board Member Marianne DeAlessi said.

The board agreed that the person should have financial experience, personnel management experience and good communication skills. They also agreed that the person should be experienced with new technology, legal issues and possess leadership qualities. The new superintendent should be able to work well with the board, have exceptional writing skills and encourage parental involvement. They should also be skilled in conflict resolution, the board agreed.

Personally, the board members said they would like their new superintendent to be honest, ethical, organized, a good listener, empathetic, acessible, be a "people person," have a good sense of humor and be involved in the community. Dama said he would also like the person to be well-versed in state mandates and how to convey new legislation to the school district.

Dama said the person should be prepared for budgetary constraints that may ensue over the next 3 to 5 years.

"I think we can't predict what's going to happen," he said.

Board Member Denise Hatch said she thinks the new superintendent should be firm in their convictions. "They should be collaborative yet decisive," Dama said.

Borin then asked the board if they were able to ask the candidates only one question, what it would be.

"I want to know, what do they know about Kinnelon?" asked Dama.

"I think another good question would be what personal goal do they have for Kinnelon," added Board President Margaret Zybrick.