The search for the East Windsor Regional School District’s new superintendent of schools has been delayed, following the resignation this week of the consultant who was leading the search.
To replace consultant Ronald Bolandi, who resigned for personal reasons, the East Windsor Regional School District Board of Education hired West Hudson Associates on Monday night to conduct the search. The firm will be paid up to $11,000 to conduct the search.
William Librera, of West Hudson Associates, will lead the search. He is a former superintendent of schools and served as the state Commissioner of Education from 2002 to 2005.
A public forum, which had been set for Sept. 24, is being rescheduled for Oct. 1 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hightstown High School auditorium.
Officials said the forum’s intention is to gather input from parents and members of the community on the qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent of schools.
Librera will be on hand earlier in the day on Oct. 1 to meet with administrators, principals, supervisors, teachers, support staff, PTA/PTO representatives and school board members to gather feedback on the qualities they would like to see in the new schools leader.
The district has been without a permanent superintendent of schools since Aug. 31, when the resignation of former Superintendent of Schools Richard Katz took effect. Assistant Superintendent of Schools Michael Dzwonar is the acting superintendent of schools.
The school board wanted to have a new superintendent of schools in place by December, but it will likely be delayed because of this latest development.
Meanwhile, based on feedback from all of the stakeholders at the Oct. 1 sessions, Librera will develop a profile of the skills and attributes the new superintendent should possess, which in turn will guide the interview process.
Advertisements were set to be placed this week in newspapers, professional journals such as Education Week, and on education-oriented websites. The advertisements will run for several weeks.
There will be several rounds of interviews with superintendent candidates. The first round in early November will involve an initial screening with every candidate who fits the stakeholder group profile.
As many as five candidates may be invited for interviews with a school board committee in late November, continuing into December. An additional round of interviews will be scheduled for the final candidates.
