Superintendent Search Update, 11 Teachers Leave Hillsborough Schools

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The search for a new Hillsborough School Superintendent continues as recruitment begins this summer. More teachers also left the district recently, highlighting a need for a proper fit in a new superintendent.

Superintendent Search

Monica Brown with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, a professional services consultant the Board of Education hired for $30,000, gave an update on the search during the last meeting on June 27.

Brown put together a list of strengths and challenges the district has in order to find the perfect fit. To do that BOE members, the public school administrators, students and leaders of the Hillsborough Education Association were consulted to determine what characteristics HYAA need to look for when recruiting and screening candidates.

Brown noted some of the strengths of the district including its positive reputation with people moving to the area for it; highly dedicated staff, especially in special education; and a wide variety of opportunities offered for students.

Challenges for the district included: rebuilding the trust between the district and its leaders; more transparency; and the state funding formula disadvantage.

"We will use this information to try and find someone who will be a great fit," said Brown. "We are looking for someone experienced in meeting these challenges."

The next steps are recruitment all summer. The official job posting is up and applications are being accepted until Aug. 15. See the job posting here.

On Sept. 12, a slate of 6 to 10 candidates will be presented to the Board of Education. Interviews are expected to happen on Sept. 17 and 24 with the goal of appointing a new superintendent in early October.

The new superintendent will take the place of Dr. Lisa Antunes after she resigned effective May 1 after being on a paid leave of absence for the past four months. Read More: Hillsborough Superintendent Resigns, School Finances Probe Continues

She abruptly announced her leave of absence on Dec. 22, 2021. This was the same time the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and the Hillsborough Police began investigating the school district's finances. Business Administrator Aiman Mahmoud also abruptly resigned on Dec. 20, 2021. Read More: Prosecutor Investigates Hillsborough School Finances: Report

Loss of Staff

While President of the Hillsborough Education Association Henry Goodhue commended the Board for how they are conducting the superintendent hiring process, he also noted his concern for the continued trend of staff leaving the district.

"During the search, we repeatedly kept hearing that staff is a strength of the district. Certainly, it's nice to hear that and to know the work of our members is seen. But also the retention was noted," said Goodhue.

Goodhue pointed to the motion on the June 27 agenda to approve the retirement of one staff member and the resignation of 10 others.

"This is an ever-growing list of retirements and resignations. As I sat here and listened to the report given and … I was struck by the fact that we have a list where we are losing some incredibly talented people and losing them because of toxic culture. And because of things done to them to possibly make them leave. We are not losing people because they are going to better districts. We are losing them because they are tired of being used in a toxic culture," said Goodhue.

At the end of May, John Oliver, a Board member and committee member to the Human Resources, described the number of resignations coming in as "fast and furious." Read More: Hillsborough Sees 'Disturbingly High' Number Of Staff Leaving District

In May alone, the Hillsborough school district had 23 teachers and staff members resign or retire.

While Goodhue is glad this issue is on the radar for the next superintendent, he called on the Board to deal with the reality of fleeing staff members now.

"We need to confront what is going on and how that culture is still permeating in some corners of this district. And I ask the board, everyone at the table, to take strong consideration to what you do, what actions you take, don't take, and consider if any of those reinforce some of the negative narratives that have been put to people," said Goodhue.

Oliver previously said the district was working to create a new committee to work with the HEA to try and gather information on resignations and retirements among school employees. Read More: Hillsborough Creates Committee To Address School Staff Issues

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