Hawthorne board narrows superintendent search timeline; community input period remains open
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Summary
Board members reviewed the superintendent search timeline, heard that 29 applications were on file and that community and staff input sessions are under way; nonconflicted board members will receive access to applicants on Feb. 25 and first-round candidate selection is scheduled for Feb. 26.
The Hawthorne Public School District board of education received an update on its superintendent search on Feb. 18, with the committee reporting that 29 applications had been received and that multiple community, staff and student input sessions are underway.
The update explained why the timeline matters now: nonconflicted board members will receive logins to the search portal on Feb. 25; the board’s seven nonconflicted members plan to meet Feb. 26 to select candidates for first-round interviews. The committee expects first-round interviews in March, second-round interviews in late March, final-round interviews in early April and a public hire after county superintendent approval in April.
“At this time, we have 29 applicants,” said the board’s search lead during the committee reports. The committee also said the application deadline closes Feb. 24 and that survey and input-session feedback will be shared with nonconflicted board members on Feb. 25.
The board has held two community input sessions and staff and student sessions; additional student sessions were scheduled Feb. 19 at Lincoln Middle School and Hawthorne High School. Participation in student sessions required parent permission. The committee emphasized that survey responses and session feedback will be used to inform candidate evaluation.
The committee’s consultant from the New Jersey School Boards Association will provide nonconflicted board members with applicant materials in the portal on Feb. 25. The board intends to advance a candidate through multiple interview rounds and obtain the county superintendent’s contract approval before making a public appointment.
The update closed with a reminder that the survey remains open through Feb. 24 and that board members and community members who have not yet participated can still submit feedback.
Looking ahead, the committee expects the applicant portal to open to nonconflicted members Feb. 25, candidate selection Feb. 26, first- and second-round interviews in March and final interviews and potential hire in April.
