Superintendent search firm seeks Montville stakeholders' opinions

The Montville Township Board of Education (BOE) plans to identify and welcome a new superintendent by July 1, 2015. To achieve this goal the BOE is asking all stakeholders to participate in an on-line Superintendent Search Survey and to attend one of several Superintendent Search Meetings. The Search Meeting that will address topics relevant to Parents and Community will be held in the Montville Township High School (MTHS) cafeteria on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 7:00 PM.

Education consulting firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) officially launched the Montville Superintendent Search on February 13, when it posted the position and began accepting applications.

This week HYA announced two opportunities for the district’s stakeholders, such as administrators, staff, teachers, parents, students and the community, to participate in the search process. Both opportunities are designed to prioritize qualities that stakeholders identify as important for Montville’s Superintendent to successfully lead the high-achieving district toward its long-range goals.

The first forum is the Montville Township Public Schools Superintendent Search Survey, currently available on-line through HYA’s ECRA Group Research and Analytics. The web address is: www.ecrasurvey.com/Montville.

“The Board is very interested in your input as they seek to hire a new superintendent,” The BOE explained in their introduction to the Superintendent Search Survey. “The information will be used by the Board to determine the ‘Desired Characteristics’ of our next superintendent.”

All Montville Township Public Schools district stakeholders, including parents, community members, principals, supervisors, directors, teachers, office staff, MTHS students, and building staff are encouraged to complete the survey.

The second forum is a series of Superintendent Search Meetings with HYA.

In all, eight meetings are scheduled, in a variety of locations, with a focus on various populations throughout the community including: MTHS students, elementary school staffs, Robert R. Lazar Middle School staff, MTHS staff, central office staff and administrators.

Each Superintendent Search Meeting will explore specific perspectives relevant to the population it is scheduled to address. From elementary to high school, from staff to administrator, from teacher to student, and from parent to community member, each meeting will focus on relevant topics to meet the wide range of stakeholder needs. A full schedule of the district’s eight Superintendent Search Meetings can be found under “Latest News” at www.montville.net

Parents and Community are encouraged to attend the Superintendent Search Meeting at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at MTHS, 100 Horseneck Road, Montville, New Jersey, in the Cafeteria.

The Montville Township Public Schools District is a highly regarded district devoted to inspiring and guaranteeing an exceptional education for 4,000 students. Located in Morris County, New Jersey, within close proximity to New York City, Montville is a suburban Pre-K to 12 district. The student body is high-achieving, parents are supportive, and the staff is known for being talented and caring. There are seven schools in the Montville Township Public Schools District; five elementary, a middle school and a high school. The schools are supported by an operating budget of $72 million.

Dr. Paul Fried, the current Superintendent for Montville Township Public Schools, will complete his five-year contract on June 30, 2015. Due to the New Jersey cap on superintendent salaries, he tendered his official resignation on December 17, 2014.

“It is with a great deal of sadness that I write to you today,” Fried stated in a December 1, 2014 letter to the district. “Unfortunately circumstances outside of my control, and outside the control of the Board of Education and community, have made it difficult for me to continue to work in New Jersey.”

While Fried is excited about his new position as Superintendent for the White Plains Schools in New York, he has stated he is sorry he must leave the Montville Township Public Schools. If requested, Fried is open to serving as a resource to Montville’s new Superintendent, during his or her transition into the district.

The BOE appreciates Montville Township Public Schools stakeholders providing data, in the coming days, through the Superintendent Search Meetings and the Superintendent Search Survey. The BOE anticipates that this information will provide valuable perspectives which will enhance and enrich the Superintendent Search process.