New Schools Super Could Be Chosen Dec. 19

The Board of Education is scheduled to meet Monday night in a closed session to discuss a contract for school administrators, but the identity of the proposed top administrator—a new superintendent—will have to wait until the next scheduled public meeting on Dec. 19.

Late Monday afternoon, Board President Susan Carlsson said she could not yet say whose name will be proposed to take over as superintendent of Bernards Township schools as of next July 1, following the scheduled retirement of current Superintendent Valerie Goger. Carlsson also declined to say whether the potential new superintendent is an internal candidate.

Both as of next June 30, the end of this school year. Both had been in their respective positions for about 13 years, although Goger said she initially joined the school district as business administrator in 1995.

The process for replacement is for the Board of Education to hire a new superintendent, and then for that person to select an assistant superintendent, school officials said in October, and since.

The school district has The district advertised the position with a starting annual salary of $167,500, as per state guidelines. However potentially, those guidelines also would allow a new superintendent also to earn a bonus of up to 15 percent on top of that base, Carlsson said in October. "That's the maximum possibility...but that's not guaranteed," she said then.

The board

Monday night's scheduled Board of Education also will involve a discussion of administrators within the district, but not the top positions, Carlsson said on Monday afternoon. Those administrators will include the schools' principals and assistant principals, curriculum supervisors and others in supervisory roles, she said.

Monday night's meeting will have no open public session, according to Schools Business Administrator Nick Markarian. The board will not vote or take any action, he said in an email on Monday.