Parsippany Schools Superintendent Search Continues

Par-Troy Interim Superintendent John T. Fitzsimons said at a previous board meeting that he hopes the permanent superintendent that replaces him has "courage."

As the search for the new superintendent is underway, one resident asked about the search at the last board meeting. 

Dave Reagan asked about two performance criteria that the superintendent is evaluated on to determine if he received a bonus or not.

“A figure of about $17,000 was being kicked around and could you let the public know, because it is tax money, how he is being evaluated and what determines how he gets that bonus,” said Reagan.

Board Attorney Mark Tabakin said quantitative and qualitative qualifications are dictated by accountability, but “in this particular instance, Dr. Fitzsimons is an interim superintendent. His appointment is running out in April and therefore, he is not going to b eligible for those bonuses since he’s not there for the full year.”

For the superintendent search, so far there has been a community forum and an online survey. The search process is being facilitated by Dr. William Librera of HYA Executive Search Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates.

Reagan also asked about the progress so far in the superintendent search. 

Board president Susy Golderer said that they “met with Dr. Librera … and he has conducted various meetings with different public groups.” The meetings were with the Par-Troy council meeting, at which most of the PTA presidents attended; with the union representatives, at which only one attended and unfortunately, the community forum, only nine people were present, said Golderer.

“The online survey was the best attended with about 200-plus responses,” she said.

“There’s a comprehensive report that the agency gave us pertaining to all the meetings that were attended that will be on the website,” said Golderer, adding that they will place an ad in the Star Ledger and on website EdWeek.org, as well as the district’s website and the agency’s website.

The agency is “hoping to get candidates in and start the interview process … Dec. 11. At which point the election will have taken place … we will have whatever board members who have been elected will be invited to meet with Dr. Librera and have some input and (give) their perspectives."

Fitzsimons was a hot topic in the community following the decision to cut a teacher and a schedule change in the middle schools because the administration has “a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of the community to not over staff our schools and once discovered, act to correct the situation.”

That decision was shut down at a controversial school board meeting, but was reversed after executive session because the decision had already been executed and board members said it would be more disruptive to undo the schedule change, as well as bring back the cut teacher with available position for her. 

Related Patch Articles:

• Teacher Layoff, Staff Changes Remain After Reversal Vote Fails
  
• School Superintendent is 'Misleading,' Cuts Hurting Students, PTHEA Says
• Community Survey on Future Par-Troy Superintendent Starts
• Teacher Cuts Upset Parents, Parsippany Community
• Overstaffed Schools Led to Teaching Cuts, Superintendent Says
• 'Despicable' Cuts Will Have 'Detrimental Impact,' Par-Troy Teachers Say