Brick Schools Advertising For Superintendent, But Why?

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township School District is taking applications for superintendent of schools. What's not clear, however, is why that search is being conducted.

An advertisement posted Monday on the NJ School Jobs website is inviting applications, seeking "an educational leader with a vision of academic excellence and a commitment to providing a learning environment designed to meet the 21st century needs and interests of a talented student population."

The job description goes on to cite requirements including:

• "Successful general or special education classroom teaching experience in a similar district"
• "Evidence of job stability, community involvement, professional growth and participation in professional associations"
• "Skilled in all aspects of fiscal management, operations: curriculum and instruction, personnel management, facility operations and labor relations"
• "Effective leadership skills: visible and accessible with a strong community presence; ability to make tough decisions and take public responsibility for them, ability to delegate when appropriate, and able to inspire and motivate staff leadership roles."

Emails to both acting Superintendent Dennis Filippone and Board President John Lamela sent Thursday morning requesting comment were not answered, so it's not known whether the advertisement is an attempt to find someone to replace Filippone or a formality prior to hiring him permanently for the position.

The advertisement says applications are being accepted through Nov. 30.

Filippone appears to have the qualities sought in the ad. He has been a fixture in the Brick Township School District for 40 years. He began his career in 1978 as a special education teacher at Lake Riviera Middle School and since then has served the district as an administrator in several roles, showing job stability.

His connection to the community runs deep as well, as someone who not only has been a teacher and administrator but also is an alumnus of the district. Over the last two years, Filippone has been involved in several aspects of trying to manage the district in the wake of the disruptions caused when Walter Uszenski was arrested in May 2015 and later indicted.

At school board meetings, when Filippone has been challenged by audience members, he's managed to respond without escalating the situation, which can be and has been a challenge for many a board member over the last several years.

And he's certainly had his share of incidents that have challenged the district, including an alcohol-fueled fight at the Brick-Brick Memorial football game at the start of the school year and a fire at Drum Point Elementary School. In the case of the football game fight, discipline was handed out quickly and measures were enacted immediately to try to address the issues — especially the alcohol use.

When Filippone was named acting superintendent in June, it appeared the board was making the move to try to create some stability and be able to utilitze the experience of Thomas Gialanella, who had been the interim superintendent, a bit longer while the district was still handcuffed by the unresolved criminal indictment against Uszenski. Uszenski, who initially was suspended by the school board in September 2015 after he was indicted on charges of official misconduct, was indicted a second time in June 2017 after Superior Court Judge Patricia Roe threw out the first indictment.

In September, the school board moved to notify Uszenski it would be terminating his contract when it expires June 30, 2018. That move was no surprise, with Filippone in place as the acting superintendent and with the likelihood that it could take most of this school year for the second Uszenski indictment to work its way through the court system.

That's why the advertisement — which was not mentioned on the Oct. 12 school board agenda — seems curious. Does the board actually intend to replace Filippone — who they handpicked and gave the title of "acting" instead of "interim," implying a possible permanence — or are they merely putting the advertisement out as a response to criticism of past moves on hiring? Time will tell.

Certainly it seems likely there will be plenty of questions asked at the next Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Dennis Filippone, photo via 10th District Legislative Office