New Superintendent Approved For Cherry Hill District

CHERRY HILL, NJ — The Cherry Hill School District has a new superintendent.

The Board of Education approved Dr. Kwame Morton for the position at Tuesday's meeting, with five members in favor, two opposed and one abstaining.

Morton, a longtime administrator, was appointed acting superintendent in July as the school board conducted a nationwide search for its next district leader.

A majority of the board also voted in favor of elevating two of Cherry Hill's principals to positions in district administration: George Guy as director of elementary education and Dr. Neil Burti for director of secondary education.

Board Members Renee Cherfane and Kimberly Gallagher voted against Morton's appointment and abstained on voting for Burti and Guy.

Morton announced Tuesday morning that he would recommend the re-assignments of Burti and Guy for the board meeting's agenda that evening. At the meeting, Gallagher said that board members needed more time to consider them for the roles.

"I refuse to make a quick decision on something that impacts our district so greatly," Gallagher said. "I know intuitively that there are members of this board who have had more information and more time to process than the rest have. I just need to make it clear that I need more than 24 hours to make a decision this great."

Although Gallagher voted against Morton's appointment to superintendent, she told him "I'll be rooting for you."

Board President Miriam Stern, Vice President Joe Mayer, and Board Members Adam Greenbaum, Dr. Benjamin Rood and Gina Winters voted to support Morton's appointment.

Quadsia Niaz, who was appointed as a board member in late February, abstained from the superintendent vote. Board Member Sally Tong was absent from Tuesday's meeting.

Morton's appointment gives the district a permanent superintendent for the first time since last June, when Dr. Joseph N. Meloche left the role to become superintendent of a Pennsylvania school district. His superintendent contract runs through June 2028.

Morton entered the township school system in 2008, when he became principal of Joyce Kilmer Elementary School. From 2013-21, he served as principal of Cherry Hill High School West, earning multiple state awards.

Before becoming acting superintendent, Morton was the district's assistant superintendent of PreK-12 and curriculum and instruction.

Morton thanked board members for participating in the "long, arduous process" of finding a new superintendent.

"I have a great sense of reverence, love and affection for this community and the members of this community," Morton said.