Board approves job‑description changes, posts middle‑school principal; appoints Saltbrook principal

The New Providence Board of Education approved personnel changes at its March 27 meeting that return the district to separate middle‑ and high‑school leadership and placed the search for a middle‑school principal on an expedited timeline.

Superintendent Dr. Zirpoli told the board the district sought a Saltbrook principal via an 11‑member search committee that received 21 applications and interviewed six candidates; two finalists were interviewed by Dr. Zirpoli before the board considered an appointment. The board approved the appointment of Miss Allen to be principal of Saltbrook School. Board presenters said Miss Allen began with the district as a Saltbrook fourth‑grade teacher (circa 2014) and served the past three years as assistant principal at Allen W. Roberts.

As part of the personnel motion the board approved the abolishment of the prior combined middle/high‑school principal position and an assistant principal position covering grades 7–8, and adopted separate job descriptions for a high‑school principal and a middle‑school principal. The superintendent said the change is intended to provide more focused leadership for grades 7–8 and grades 9–12. The board also approved revisions to the student assistance coordinator and middle‑school counselor job descriptions that reflect the building restructure. Dr. Zirpoli said the district will post the middle‑school principal opening internally and externally and aims to present a candidate at the April 24 board meeting.

Board members thanked outgoing joint‑principal leader Mr. Henry for five years of service in the combined role and discussed the committee process used for hiring. The personnel items were grouped under the board’s personnel agenda and were approved during roll call.

No dissenting votes were recorded on the personnel agenda during the meeting.