Mendham Borough Chooses New Superintendent

The search is over.

Bridgewater's Adamsville Primary School principal Mitzi Morillo will be leaving the district at the beginning of May to become superintendent in the Mendham Borough School District.

The Mendham Borough Board of Education has been looking for a permanent superintendent to replace Janie Edmonds who retired in June 2012. Former Chester Superintendent Dr. Thomas Butler has been leading the district since July on an interim basis.

The issue has been a hot topic in Mendham Borough, with one Borough resident accusing the school of being unable to attract a solid candidate for superintendent after Edmonds vacated her post.

Richard Marasco, who represented the Leadership Advantage Firm that ran the superintendent search in Mendham Borough, said the next superintendent for Mendham Borough will most likely be a newcomer and not a schools chief with experience.

"Based on my experience the salary caps have caused the movement of people out. They have enough time in to take a pension," Marasco said. "I don’t think you are going to see sitting superintendents unless they are in trouble. No one is going to make a lateral move. I don’t think you are going to get people jumping like they did in the past because there is no incentive out there like there was."

The issue has been a hot topic in Mendham Borough, with one Borough resident accusing the school of being unable to attract a solid candidate for superintendent after Edmonds vacated her post.

Marasco stressed during the search that while candidates with experience were unlikely, that didn't mean qualified people were not out there.

"I think there are some great people out there. Its about leadership at the end of the day," Marasco said. "For someone who has good interpersonal communication skills and a strength in elementary education the nuances of a superintendent are easily learned."

Those nuances are now going to be learned by Morillo, whose last day with Bridgewater is May 3.

Morillo has been with the Bridgewater district for the past five years, according to Bridgewater Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder.

“We wish her the best, success and happiness,” he said.