Kinnelon Super Search in Very Early Stages

The Kinnelon Board of Education will need to begin discussions shortly on the process of replacing superintendent James Opiekun, who is leaving on May 31. Opiekun spent 10 years working with the Kinnelon school district, which currently has approximately 2,200 students and a budget of $36 million.

Board president Margaret Zybrick said he will not be easy to replace.

“In the ideal world, it will be hard to find another Jim Opiekun," she said. "What he did in 10 years, many people don’t do in 20. He exceeded my expectations."

Opiekun started his career in 1973 as a social studies and history teacher in Hopatcong public schools. Eight years later, he became an assistant principal at their middle school, and then a principal at Hardyston Township schools, where he spent six years.

In 1989, he moved up to a chief school administrator position at Montague public school, with 400 students and a budget of $4 million. He then became a superintendent in East Rutherford, managing 800 students and an $8-million budget. He left there after nine years to become the superintendent of schools in Kinnelon. 

Opiekun will be turning 61 when he retires from Kinnelon school district. He is married with two children, and lives in Green Township in Sussex County. His daughter is a physical education teacher and his son is a freshman in college. He has not made any decisions yet about what he plans to do.

Similarly, the school board has not discussed their plan yet, according to Zybrick. 

“Everything is just in the preliminary stages right now. It's a lot to digest and sort through," she said. "The board will have a discussion the next time we gather. The first step will be putting out a notification with the credentials we’re looking for. It will be a very professional search.” 

Zybrick said they will place an ad and do a search through the New Jersey School Boards Association, which provides a service of identifying high-level candidates for districts, and weeding out those who aren't a match. 

According to Zybrick, Kinnelon obtained Opiekun through the same route.

"I imagine some resumes will have what we’re looking for," she said. "If we’re lucky enough to get ten phenomenal candidates, we’ll have ten interviews." 

Opiekun said he would be willing to be a resource, if the board were to request his assistance, but it is not normally something he would be involved in. 

Zybrick said they would be open to hiring from within the district if the applicant has a superintendent certificate, although no one has come forward with that intent.

She noted that the school board will change after elections are held in April. 

"Because [Opiekun] is leaving on May 31, the new hire will be done by the new board of ed, technically," she said. "All of us can participate in the process, but the new board will have the final say."

"It will be a long process," she continued, "but there will be people looking to come here. Kinnelon school district is one that people aspire to work in. We’ve been very fortunate to have his talent. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end."