Resident comments on principal search
At the June 16 meeting of the Metuchen Board of Education, a variety of opinions and arguments were exchanged on the topic of the search for a new principal of the high school. To these I'd like to add few points of clarification and a suggestion.

The working responsibility of selecting a candidate for the new principal of the high school rests squarely in the hands of central administration. They are responsible for the outreach, screening and identification of candidates. However, they do not work in isolation, but are guided by the goals and policies of the elected Board of Education — our representatives whom we placed in office to articulate those very standards. And of course, the board has final say on the matter during a business agenda vote.

This division of labor has worked effectively when allowed to do so, especially when communication between the administration and board is honest, frank, and open. It worked well when we hired both the current superintendent following the sudden death of her predecessor, as well as the current principal of our middle school when her predecessor retired. This working relationship between the administration and the elected board is often interpreted as "the board defining goals and policy while assuring that the administration manages the district well." While somewhat abbreviated, it does catch the spirit of the practice.

In this context, it is gratifying to learn that the search process may be conducted through the next year, thus allowing for patience as well as thoroughness to prevail. Needless to say, individuals, families, and some board members have shared many opinions on this matter, with sincerity as well as passion, not only during the board meeting in question, but in other venues as well. For example, some have expressed concern with a fall in rank of the high school as reported by one N.J. pollster, while more recently, others point to the increased demands of the new high school graduation requirements approved by the N.J. State Board of Education on June 17. Clearly some form of community input should be included in the search process.

One suggestion is to form an advisory body drawn from a cross section of the community and charged with the responsibility of advising the board on matters of selection and experience criteria of the new principal. Such a group would help focus community concerns in their dialog with the board as it conducts its personnel search. Similar committees have been empowered by the board in past years in support of various school matters including the 1995 Referendum Survey, technology, strategic planning, and mathematics education.

As with any democratic body, I have no doubt that a working consensus to the satisfaction of the majority of community and board members will be found.

As a closing note, I would like to extend my gratitude to retiring Principals John Novak and Robert Gugliara, respectively of the high school and Campbell Elementary School. Metuchen will not forget their service to our community.
Alfred M. Barron
Metuchen
Former member
Metuchen Board of Education
1999-2005