Haddonfield BOE Welcomes New Member

HADDONFIELD – The newest school board member in Haddonfield brings a wealth of experience in public school planning. Susan Kutner was sworn in March 19 to fill the remainder of a term that expires January 2016.

Kutner is currently employed by the New Jersey Department of Education as the Acting Deputy Division Director of the Office of School Facilities and Finance. Prior to joining the Department in 2004, she was a school architect, providing planning and design services for public and private school districts across the country. Kutner brings expertise in all aspects of educational facilities planning, including enrollment projections, program development, feasibility studies and long-range planning.

“As a director in the Department of Education and former consultant to more than one hundred school districts, I understand the issues and difficult decisions school boards face,” Kutner said. “I hope to be of service to the Haddonfield school district in sustaining its high level of quality and meeting the challenges ahead.”

Although Kutner oversees school facilities policy and planning at the Department of Education, she does not personally review or approve submissions from non-Abbott districts like Haddonfield. She received advance approval from the department’s ethics officer to pursue the board position in Haddonfield.

Kutner has lived in Haddonfield for more than 20 years. Her daughter Rebecca Connolly served as student representative to the board of education before graduating from Haddonfield Memorial High School in 2013. Son Ian Connolly will enter HMHS as a freshman in the fall. Kutner holds master of architecture and bachelor of arts degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

School board members considered 13 applicants for the open seat, which resulted when three-year member Andrew Berlin resigned mid-term.

For more information contact Renee Janowicz 856-986-5058 or rjanowicz@comcast.net