Sean Siet Named New Assistant Super in Bernards

The Bernards on Monday appointed a new assistant superintendent of schools for 2012-13 — Sean Siet, who now is the school district's director of curriculum and instruction.

But Siet won't be giving up his existing duties when he takes over his new position on July 1, following the anticipated retirement of the current assistant superintendent, Regina Rudolph, according to school officials.

Instead, Schools Superintendent Valerie Goger said that Siet's old and new positions would be merged. Goger said the plan is to hire a guidance supervisor at with that administrator in charge of the guidance department and directing the school's college admissions process. A position of guidance director at the high school has gone unfilled since 2006, Goger said.

"The high school is still growing," said Goger, who said she had been urged of the need for additional supervision in the high school guidance department by parents and counselors.

Siet, who was present at Monday's meeting, has held his current position for the last five years. His appointment on Monday awaits a final contract, with his salary to be set at that time, said Schools Business Adminstrator Nick Markarian, who recommended Siet as the next assistant superintendent.

Siet's current salary is $129,809. The pending assistant superintendent still must negotiate a new salary with the Board of Education, Markarian said.

Markarian also is set to move up on July 1 into the position of Bernards Schools Superintendent, after both Valerie Goger, the current superintendent, and Rudolph 

The school board voted as superintendent, waiting for a formal vote of the school board members who would be sitting on the school board for the 2012-13 school year, since his appointment wouldn't take effect until July 1.

However, if the school board votes next month to move school elections to November, the current board can vote at that time to officially appoint Markarian as superintendent for the next school year, said Board President Susan Carlsson.

Siet, who received kudos from several of his colleagues and other well-wishers following the meeting, said he looks forward to working with the school board, Markarian and the community.

Siet initially came to the district as supervisor of Social Studies, and previously had been a Social Studies teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School.