Interviews Monday For Temporary Schools Chief

The search for a temporary head of the school district could be over as soon as Monday, district officials said Thursday. 

The Board of Education is conducting interviews Monday at the Board of Education offices on 18th Avenue for the position of Interim Superintendent in closed session beginning at 4:30 p.m., board President John Tavis said.

Seven candidates have been identified as potential interviewees, culled from responses from internal and external district advertising, Tavis said.

The full, 9-member board will be conducting interviews of all the candidates in closed session. A decision on whom to hire could be made in public session following the interviews, Tavis said.

The board is scheduled to meet in its regular public session on Jan. 17.

“We’ve tried to squish this process as quickly as possible,’’ Tavis said. “While you can’t help when you get sick, Dr. Habel did leave at an inopportune time.’’

Habel, who is in the waning months of his sometimes-embattled tenure with the district, will be burning up to six months of accumulated vacation and sick time. He officially went on sick leave this week to tend to an undisclosed medical condition.

Habel’s contract expires in June. A search for a permanent replacement also is underway.

In July, to take a similar position in Cherry Hill.  Gaffney's position originally was not going to be filled, .

Mary Jane Garibay, the new curriculum director, was hired in September.

Then, in October, former Assistant Superintendent Sandra Brower .

Meantime, Tavis credited newly hired Curriculum Director Mary Jane Garibay, Business Administrator Brian Smyth, the administrative staff, principals and teachers for taking on additional duties while the board finds a temporary chief.

“Everyone has been really helpful,’’ Tavis said. “The teaching staff is aware of implications. We’re trying to make a bad situation as good as possible.’’