Board rejects recommended assistant superintendent hire after heated debate

The Washington Township Board of Education voted on a human-resources slate that included a recommended appointment to replace retiring Assistant Superintendent Gretchen Gerber. While the broader human-resources package moved forward, the motion to approve the specific appointment (item 27) failed on roll call after extended debate about timing and budget implications.

Assistant Superintendent Gretchen Gerber told the board she was concerned about curriculum leadership if the hire did not proceed. "As of the May, we will have no one running curriculum in this district," she said, urging trustees to consider the instructional consequences of leaving the position vacant. Superintendent Eric Hibbs and several board members argued that having an overlap to train a successor was important to maintain program continuity.

Supporters of the appointment said the recommended candidate has district experience and that delaying the hire risks program disruption. One trustee argued that the position's salary was "a drop in the bucket" relative to the district's capacity to deliver services and open new programs that create jobs.

Opponents said the board should not approve a major administrative hire until the district's budget with negotiation outcomes is clearer. They expressed concern about committing to new salary spending before the budget-retreat process and asked that the matter be addressed with broader fiscal context.

After the roll call on item 27, the chair declared the motion did not carry. Several community members and school employees who spoke during public comment urged the board to reconsider the decision and said they feared the loss of institutional knowledge would hurt students.

The board did not announce a replacement plan during the public meeting; the superintendent said he would report on interim arrangements and next steps for curriculum oversight after the executive-session discussion.