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Old Bridge public divided as board holds hearing on superintendent contract extension
Summary
A packed public hearing produced charged accusations and strong defenses of the superintendent as the board reviewed two contract options; the board deferred a formal vote until next week and read correspondence for and against renewal.
A public hearing on a proposed extension of the superintendent's contract at the Old Bridge Township Board of Education meeting on March 11 drew sharply divided comments from residents, school staff and former board members, and the board agreed to postpone a vote until its next meeting.
The hearing focused on whether to approve one of two options presented to the board: a one-year extension with a 6% pay increase or a two-year extension with a 2.5% annual increase. Several residents criticized the administration and urged the board to delay renewal pending investigation; other speakers, including district staff and parents, urged the board to renew the superintendent's contract, citing district performance and leadership during crises.
The dispute centered on allegations raised by resident Brooke Richards Patterson, who read a detailed, emailed statement during the public portion. Patterson accused district leadership of multiple personnel and administrative problems, including alleged favoritism in hiring and promotions, disputed claims about school closures and facilities, concerns about summer-school practices and testing, and that the superintendent had not completed an advanced degree he was reportedly expected to obtain as a term of employment. Patterson asked the board to investigate those matters before extending the contract.
Several speakers directly contradicted or pushed back on those allegations at the meeting. Andrew Lewis, a leader in the district's educator association, called several specific claims "fake news," said staff are certified and governed by regulations, and disputed assertions about stipends and union representation. Scott Buzella, the district's public relations coordinator, urged the board to weigh "the immense amount of positives" alongside criticisms and said hundreds of employees work daily for students. Principal Karen Foley of Southwood Elementary said she supported the superintendent as a champion for students and staff and cited the district's work through COVID and safety initiatives.
Several long-term residents and parents spoke in support of the superintendent, praising his responsiveness to families and citing district performance data. Marika Mowicks, who said she compiled a spreadsheet comparing county superintendents, argued Old Bridge's graduation and proficiency rates exceed the state average and warned that a hostile board environment could deter future candidates. Parent Ron Vario recounted personal interactions that led him to support extending the superintendent's tenure.
Board members discussed the two contract options in public. One board member said the two-year option with a 2.5% annual increase would allow time for a proper superintendent search (a process the New Jersey School Board Association estimates can take nine months to a year), while others noted financial constraints and recent budget pressures. A board member disclosed a conflict and said they would not vote; the board confirmed it will take a formal vote on the superintendent contract at next week's meeting.
While the superintendent contract vote was deferred, the board conducted routine business during the March 11 meeting and approved several resolutions by roll call, including an agenda addendum, finance resolution 1, certificated personnel resolutions 2 and 3, noncertificated personnel transportation resolutions and a supplies/equipment/services resolution. The clerk also read two written correspondences from residents—one urging a one-year extension and another urging renewal—into the record.
The meeting included additional items: administrators discussed IDEA funding and services for nonpublic schools, noting the district receives about $2 million on average in IDEA funds and that federal rules determine allocations; members highlighted ongoing budget deficits and urged community participation in upcoming budget discussions; and announcements were made about SEPTA's fundraising goals and upcoming school musical productions.
Next steps: the board will reconvene and take a formal vote on the superintendent contract at its next meeting; no final action on the contract was taken on March 11. The board passed the routine resolutions noted above during the March 11 meeting.
