Search For Superintendent Makes Gains

The search for a new schools superintendent is making strides with plans to put forth a recommendation for a new superintendent sometime this summer still on track, said School Board Member Leslie Larson.

She said the board would be meeting with Ray & Associates on June 27 to review the candidates they have vetted.

"We should expect to look at 15 to 16 vetted applications that night," she said. "We will narrow the applicants down to a few (maybe four, less or more depending) who will be interviewed on July 9 and 10.

"Sometime after July 10 we hopefully will have a recommendation," she added.

Depending on the person's contract, a start date will then be decided upon.

Larson said she's very excited about the pool of talent that is interested in leading the district.

The current superintendent, Dr. Frank Alvarez, announced earlier this year that he would step down this month after nine years on the job in order to take over as superintendent of the Rye City School District.

On Monday night, Alvarez presided over his last public school board meeting in Montclair, at which he was given a standing ovation for his years of service.

"I love this community," he said. "It's a great school system. I'll be watching from afair."

Many school board members praised Alvarez for narrowing the achievement gap and for strengthening the high school's small learning communities.

Dr. Clarence C. Hoover will take over as interim superintendent beginning July 1.

A resident of Montclair, Hoover recently served as the interim assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Prior to that, he was the superintendent of the East Orange Public Schools, Essex County’s second largest district.

Only a few years ago, the Montclair Board of Education announced that it had approved a new five-year contract for Alvarez that extended from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2014.

That contract called for Alvarez to remain at a salary of $216,083 for two years.

Former School Board President Shelly Lombard recently said that it would be virtually impossible to hire someone on a permanent basis to replace Alvarez by July 1 since most candidates must give a 60-day notice to their current districts.

She said it's more important to get the right person than it is to get someone fast.

Lombard said the goal is to hire someone on a permanent basis by September 1, 2012.