Barnegat Township board outlines superintendent search as residents press for greater interview role

The Barnegat Township School District board described the timeline and legal steps for hiring a permanent superintendent and defended using a short-term interim assistant superintendent to bridge the gap while the district completes its search. Residents at the special meeting urged the board to allow more community involvement in interviews and questioned whether nondisclosure agreements could permit public participation.

The board president told attendees the current superintendent requested an early departure and that, because state rules prevent two superintendents serving simultaneously, the board created a temporary interim assistant superintendent position for roughly one month so the incoming interim can shadow the departing superintendent. The president said the interim post will be abolished once a permanent superintendent is onboarded.

Maryanne Freriedman, senior field service representative with the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), told the meeting that a permanent superintendent must hold a New Jersey school administrator certificate or a certificate of eligibility and noted the New Jersey First Act governs out-of-state candidates' residency obligations. "You can't have less than a three-year contract that you offer your permanent person," Freriedman said, adding that contracts can run up to five years and may include 60–120 day exit clauses. She also emphasized that the executive county superintendent must approve any finalized contract before the board can appoint a finalist.

Board members said the permanent posting closed May 29 and that the district had received 20 applications; the board had not yet reviewed resumes and will consider public input collected at the meeting and through online surveys before beginning interviews. The board's search committee — four board members, the board said — will conduct initial rounds and recommend finalists for full-board interviews. The board estimated the review and interview rounds could stretch through July and said that contract notice periods at candidates' current districts could delay start dates into September or October.

NJSBA field representative Robert (Rob) Cher and Freriedman asked the community to help shape the candidate profile by responding to three surveys (separate forms for parents/community, staff/administrators and high school students) accessible via a QR code. The surveys were announced to close one week after the meeting at 11:59 p.m.; the board said it will combine the responses with tonight's input when building interview questions and performance expectations.

During the public-comment segment, some residents asked for direct stakeholder participation in interviews. "I was curious about getting community members involved in that interview process," said a resident who identified herself as Michelle, and urged that the board consider ways to include community perspectives because board members may not have human resources backgrounds.

NJSBA representatives and board participants responded that state law and confidentiality rules limit non-board participation in confidential interview panels. Freriedman said confidentiality is integral to attracting candidates and that breaches often cause applicants to withdraw. A resident who described a prior district process suggested redacting identifying employer details so community reviewers could assess resumes without learning candidates' current employers; another resident and an attorney in the audience pushed back against the strict interpretation of confidentiality, arguing NDAs could provide protections and permit limited stakeholder involvement.

The board recorded routine procedural votes during the meeting: approval of the agenda, a vote to enter executive session for a superintendent evaluation, a vote to open public comment, a vote to close public comment and a vote to adjourn. All motions reported in the transcript carried on roll call.

The board said next steps include compiling survey results, having the search committee review applications and conducting initial interviews in early July. The board reiterated that any finalist appointment requires ECS approval and that the earliest realistic permanent start date could be September but more likely October depending on contract notice periods.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda approval: motion approved by roll call (yes: Miss Churnney; Miss Continza; Miss Genie; Mr. Hearn; Mr. Sarno). (SEG 026–035) - Motion to enter executive session (for CSA evaluation): approved by roll call. (SEG 036–049) - Motion to open public session for community input: approved by roll call. (SEG 819–838) - Motion to close public session: approved by roll call. (SEG 1070–1076) - Motion to adjourn: approved by roll call. (SEG 1088–1106)

Next steps: survey responses will be compiled and provided to the board; the search committee will begin reviewing applications and schedule interview rounds, with finalists brought to the full board for final interviews and a candidate presented for appointment subject to executive county superintendent approval.