Schools

Kinnelon Superintendent Search Continues

Opiekun to retire at the end of May.

The has not yet chosen a candidate to replace outgoing Superintendent of Schools Jim Opiekun.

Board President Margaret Zybrick answered a question of former Kinnelon Board of Education Member Deborah New at the board's meeting Thursday about where the district stands in the process and Zybrick said the district went through two rounds of job postings and has conducted interviews. Zybrick said the board has researched the candidates and that there will be more to report on the selection of a candidate shortly.

"We're ironing out those details," Zybrick said.

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Opiekun, who has served the Kinnelon school district for 10 years, at the end of this month. The search for a new superintendent , with the public on the candidate they would like to fill the position in January.

Board Member Denise Hatch said she was recently at a reception where Opiekun was honored for his service and was presented a proclamation by Councilman Jim Freda. Hatch said this was the first time she saw Opiekun speechless.

Find out what's happening in Tri-Borowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"To see him not have something to say was kind of impressive to me," she joked.

But Hatch remarked that the reception proved the community's appreciation of Opiekun's work and said this was the beginning of the end of Opiekun's time with the district.

"We're starting our long goodbye," she said.


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