Search Continues For New Long Valley Superintendent

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The Washington Township Schools Board of Education is prioritizing the search for a new superintendent this school year and has scheduled a series of special meetings to facilitate the process.

Interim Superintendent Marybeth Kopacz is currently leading the 1900-plus student Washington Township School District. Kopacz stepped in back in May to help guide the district while the new search for a superintendent remained ongoing.

Kopacz took over shortly after superintendent Peter Turnamian, who had been leading the district since 2021, announced his intention to leave for a new post at the Cedar Grove Board of Education.

The district recently announced that it will host a series of special Board of Education meetings at the beginning of the school year, specifically to aid in the search for a new superintendent.

The meetings will take place in the library at Long Valley Middle School, 51 West Mill Road. No action will be taken, and all meetings will be held in executive session, officials said.

Here are the planned dates and times:

• Sept. 7: 10 a.m.
• Sept. 18: 6:30 p.m.
• Sept. 19: 6:30 p.m.
• Sept. 20: 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 1: 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 2: 6:30 p.m.

The school board previously announced that the search would be assisted by Kathleen Helewa Educational Associates, LLC. The consultant will conduct preliminary interviews with each applicant before presenting them to the Board of Education for review.

According to John Oldmixon, president of the school board, preliminary interviews began this week, keeping them on track to start formal interviews by next month.