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Berkeley Heights board sets evaluation timeline after NJSBA training
Summary
At a May 1 special meeting the board heard New Jersey School Boards Association guidance on the superintendent-evaluation process, set internal deadlines for member submissions and tentatively scheduled executive-session work after the district's Educator of the Year event.
Jean Cleary of the New Jersey School Boards Association told the Berkeley Heights Board of Education on May 1 that the district must complete its written superintendent evaluation by July 1 and that the process should be grounded in the district's agreed goals.
"The board must by code, complete this evaluation once a year," Cleary said, adding that the evaluation needs to be done in writing and that the board should meet with the superintendent to review the compilation of member responses.
Cleary explained the mechanics of the NJSBA tool: the superintendent submits a self-evaluation, the system imposes a 48-hour hold, and then board members complete individual evaluations. The system then generates a compilation document that the board reviews in executive session and finalizes as a majority-opinion performance report. Cleary said minority opinions may be verbally shared during the final meeting.
Board members discussed timing and logistics. The superintendent indicated she expects to submit her portion around May 15; Cleary said the compilation would likely be available to the board about 48 hours later. Members agreed to target late May (members suggested May 29–30 or May 20 depending on logistics) for member completion so that the compilation could be prepared over the following weekend.
Several members raised concerns about scheduling the required executive-session work on June 5, the night of the district's Educator of the Year event, because past executive sessions have run late. The board tentatively agreed to hold the compilation/majority-opinion executive session after the Educator of the Year celebration on June 5 if the June 5 agenda can be kept light; the board's final sign-off was expected at the June 26 meeting and must be complete by July 1 to satisfy CUSAC/NJDOE requirements.
Cleary emphasized confidentiality and statutory protections for staff when portions of the process occur in executive session and reminded the board that the evaluation should focus on superintendent performance, student-progress indicators, and professional standards rather than staff employment issues.
The meeting did not take any formal policy actions; members moved and seconded a motion to adjourn at the close of the session.
What's next: Board members are to complete their individual evaluation entries by the agreed internal deadline; the compilation will be prepared and reviewed in executive session, after which the president and superintendent will sign the finalized document prior to July 1.
