Barnegat School Board Votes Not To Renew Super's Contract

BARNEGAT, NJ -The Barnegat Board of Education is advertising for a new superintendent, in the wake of board members' recent vote to oust Karen Wood, who has been at the district's helm for five years.

Wood has been at odds with the board recently. She posted a message on July 23 - which has since been removed - about possible illegal or criminal activities on the part of school board members and questioned their ethics.

Wood apologized to board members, the district staff and the community for the Facebook post for her "poor word choices," according to a letter she posted on the district website.

..."I want to make clear that I have no knowledge of any illegal or criminal conduct by any members of the board, nor have any board members displayed such conduct," she wrote. "I am presently unaware of any violations of the school ethics act by any members of the board."

Her letter was posted two days before the school board voted not to renew her $155,977 contract, which expires on June 30, 2018.

Board President Scott Sarno said her post did not have any effect on the board’s decision, and declined to discuss reasons why her contract will not be removed, according to

The Sandpaper.

“The superintendent has the option of discussing the matter in public or private, and she opted for private,” said Sarno. “Because of that, we cannot make any comments.”

But Wood has her supporters in town. A new Facebook page -"Renew Karen Wood For Superintendent of Barnegat School District - was launched earlier this week.

"Our mission is simple," a post by Rob Russo states. "We will unite as parents, registered voters, taxpayers and citizens of Barnegat to collectively request the Barnegat Board of Education not only reconsiders but renegotiates and renews the contract of our Superintendent, Karen Wood, beyond its expiration in June, 2018 in a fiscally sound manner for all."

Former board member Karen Ray called the board's actions "despicable," according to The Sandpaper.

“They voted not to renew the superintendent’s contract after repeatedly responding that they were not getting rid of the superintendent and after person after person stepped up to the podium to praise her,” she said.

Ray expects the matter will be a key issue in the November board race.
Image: Renew Karen Wood For Superintendent of Barnegat School District Facebook page.