Superintendent Says He'll Miss Madison's People Most

Madison Superintendent Dr. Richard Noonan said he'll miss the people in the district–from students and their families, to colleagues–when he departs for the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District.

Noonan has accepted a position in the Philadelphia-area district in Pennsylvania as the superintendent effective Oct. 1.

"This opportunity arose rather quickly late in the year," Noonan said. "It's a terrific leadership opportunity; an attractive district. It looks like an enjoyable place to work."

Noonan has two daughters, the youngest of which just graduated from Chatham High School, making the move easier for him at this time.

"At this juncture, both have finished their high school years and that leaves the family in a more fluid situation for other job opportunities."

Noonan expects to  continue to work with the Madison Public Schools through  September. Madison Board of Education President Lisa Ellis said the board will hold a meeting on Thursday, July 15 to discuss finding an interim superintendent and how to approach the search for a permanent replacement.

"We haven't gotten that far in discussion," Ellis said. "Typically the guys that do interimships in New Jersey are retired superintendents and not eligible (to be a permanent replacement)."

Noonan leaves the state at a time where Gov. Chris Christie has made and continues to make changes to the education and public employment system. Christie has said he wants to make changes to the current pension system, though no specifics have come out on exactly what he will try to do. Noonan has 20 years of experience in the New Jersey school system.

Though he acknowledges that the past year has been a difficult one, Noonan said he is not leaving New Jersey because of the state of affairs in Trenton.

"It's a very challenging era in public education these days," he said. "I don't believe that's unique to New Jersey. The concerns with regard to finances at the state level are true everywhere now. It creates enormous pressure on administrators and teachers everywhere. I don't think that New Jersey's recent development had a whole lot to do with it."

Noonan also said that he sees a lot of opportunity in his new district.

"There are very well recognized schools there," he said. "The community assigns a pretty high value to quality schools. There are building projects underway. I think they are interested in going on to achieve things they haven't achieved yet, even though they have already gained some nice recognition. I think it will be a challenging place to work and enormously satisfying."

He says he'll miss Madison, especially the people he's met here over the years.

"I'm really fond of our students here," Noonan said. "They tend to be an exuberant group. There are a lot of diverse interests. There is a lot of life and vitality to the schools. They are a really a unique asset to the school district. So I'll miss them. There are a lot of great families, a lot of great leadership from the faculty here, a strong administrative team. The people I have worked with on the Board of Education I have worked with now for a long time. They are great people; great to work for, but great human beings too. What I'll miss most? It's those people and those aspects of life in the school district."

Ellis said the board will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. in executive session on July 15 to discuss the matter, then hold its regular public meeting. She said she believes it will take the place of the originally scheduled meeting on July 27.

Both Ellis and Vice President Pat Rowe were members of the board when it went through the last hiring process–when Noonan was brought on board about six years ago. Ellis said the process typically takes about 4-6 months, which is why the board will be looking for an interim first before finding a permanent replacement.

Ellis said the last time the board went through the process they hired New Jersey School Boards Association as the group to help with the hiring process.

"They did a good job for us," Ellis said. "They are certainly someone to consider, but they won't be the only group we consider."

The job of NJSBA and other groups who would serve in the same manner is to do surveys and focus groups with the residents and staff to find out what type of superintendent is best for the district. They also do all the advertising for the position and pull in candidates for their initial screening. The board then interviews candidates and makes its own decision on who to hire. Ellis said about nine candidates interviewed for the job when Noonan was hired.

Ellis said she and Rowe received word from Noonan that he was considering the job in Pennsylvania a little over two weeks ago.

"We're obviously very disappointed," Ellis said. "He's done a great job for us. We're disappointed he's going. It was a personal decision on his part. The board will look at it as an opportunity, perhaps, to change gears. There have been a lot changes in New Jersey."

Ellis is confident the district will make it through the process without issue.

"We have a great building administration and a competent board, and we'll get through this," Ellis said.

Noonan said his current circumstance only adds to how he usually feels around this time of year.

"We just had the end of the school year. It was a busy time for us over the last two weeks," Noonan said. "I always find the close of the school year an emotional experience. It's great to celebrate the passage of the kids at Madison High School to the next phase. We celebrate at each school level in the district. It's always emotional, particularly now realizing it's the close of this chapter of my professional career."

Noonan also posted a statement on the district's Web site. For that statement, click here.