Board welcomes new superintendent, sets timeline to fill vacancy and hears plea to prioritize bullying

The Millstone Township Board of Education introduced Dr James McCartney as the district’s new superintendent and invited him to address the meeting. Dr McCartney said he was "thrilled to be part of the Millstone Township School Community," noted he had been appointed in September and expressed optimism for the remainder of the school year.

Board members moved to advertise the vacant ninth board seat immediately, proposing an application cutoff of January 17 and scheduling a special meeting on January 21 to interview candidates and appoint a replacement. The board noted that fingerprinting for the appointee could delay their official start until February.

During public comment, Christina Herz of Pine (address provided in the record) congratulated the newly elected officers and appealed to the board to prioritize bullying prevention. "There was an incident where a parent came to me recently ... the situation was absolutely heartbreaking," Herz said, urging the board to make bullying one of its top priorities and suggesting parent-organized efforts to address the problem.

A board member expressed confidence in the new superintendent and said the administration would consider ways to address the concerns raised; no formal directive or policy change was recorded at the meeting.

The board then approved an amendment to the published schedule to include the January 21 special meeting, adopted consent items B and C by voice vote, noted district closure for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, 2025, and adjourned.