Our View

Board back to drawing board in supt. search

Once again, South Brunswick is searching for a new schools superintendent.

Board of Education President Bob Long said this week that the members cannot agree on which candidates to bring forward for a final decision.

"This is the single most important thing this board can do," Long said, and we agree.

While this is certainly an important decision for the board, it is also important for the residents of the township to know what is going on in the search process.

There is an interim superintendent, Dr. Judith Ferguson, to get the district through the summer, and maybe even a bit longer.

Ferguson has worked in this capacity before, and is even familiar with preparing a referendum and searching for a new superintendent.

This is good news for the district.

The board should take its time to find a replacement for Sam Stewart, who is retiring on Monday.

The board should also keep the public informed about the process it is using to find a new head for the district.

The public should be made aware of the candidates who are applying for the job.

This person will head a $100-million-a-year business, and will have a direct effect on the wallets and purses of the community.

If the board keeps the selection process in the dark, little could be done to avoid a mistake like Dr. Leigh Byron.

He was obviously not a good fit for the district.

Had the board appointed him before letting the public do its due diligence, it could have resulted in a very tense three years.

Some may say that the board is elected by the people and that the members could be voted out if a bad decision is made.

That may be true.

In politics, however, that remedy may do little to solve the problem

The public needs to know those who the board is seriously considering for the position, and members must be ready to articulate the reasons that they choose to support or block a candidate from the job.

This is definitely the most important appointment the board will make.