Jefferson Township board hires NJ School Boards Association to conduct superintendent search for $15,500

The Jefferson Township Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to hire the New Jersey School Boards Association to conduct the district’s superintendent search at a cost of $15,500.

The action came after two public commenters urged the board to reconsider using an outside firm and flagged the expense of contracting for the search. The discussion was brief; the board then moved into and out of a closed session before taking the appointment vote.

Mr. Natale moved to approve the professional appointment of the New Jersey School Boards Association to conduct the superintendent search process; Mrs. Ruggiero seconded. The motion carried on a roll-call vote with all nine board members recorded as voting aye: Mr. Camacho; Mrs. Poulas; Mrs. Small; Mr. Natale; Mrs. Ruggiero; Mrs. Mallimo-Orna, vice president; Mrs. Perez; Ms. Seugling; and Mr. Brown, president.

Earlier in the meeting Mr. Brown read the board’s Open Meeting Statement and the board recessed to closed session under the Open Public Meetings Law (N.J.S.A. 10:4-12b), citing confidential matters, anticipated litigation and attorney–client issues; the meeting returned to public session at 5:57 p.m.

The agenda item approving the consultant specified the professional appointment and the $15,500 fee; the board did not record additional contract terms or a timeline for the search during the public session. The meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m.

Next procedural steps or a public timeline for candidate recruitment and selection were not specified in the minutes provided.