Fair Haven Superintendent Search Over

After conducting a months' long search for a new Fair Haven School District superintendent, it turns out that the Board of Education did not have to look any farther than its own ... principal's office.

On Friday, a letter was sent out informing parents that Knollwood School Principal Nelson Ribon would be the district's next top administrator.

That decision will be officially approved at tonight's Board of Education meeting with a traditional small welcoming cake and coffee celebration, according to outgoing Superintendent Kathleen Cronin.

"I think the board made an excellent choice in selecting Nelson, as he is an effective communicator, an instructional leader and is knowledgeable about our district," Cronin, whose pending retirement brought on the change, said. "The transition process from principal to superintendent should be a smooth one."

Ribon has been in the school's principal's office for about two years now, having been hired in June of 2011.

He came to Knollwood after a seven-year stint as principal of Freehold Borough Intermediate School. Before that, Ribon taught at St. John Vianney in Holmdel and was a Spanish and psychology teacher in the Keansburg district for five years.

Ribon, according to state records, has a master's degree and 12 years of experience and earns a salary of $132,500 as Knollwood's principal.

Cronin's salary is $150,075, according to state records.

With Ribon slated to start in the post effective July 1, as Cronin leaves June 30, the district has posted the job listing/vacancy of his position on its website.

"We will begin interviewing in mid-May," Cronin said of the new principal hunt. "We are hopeful to have a candidate to approve in June. We will not be hiring a search firm to conduct the principal search."

The search consultant hired to ferret out the perfect Fair Haven superintendent candidate was Rich Morasco of Leadership Advantage. Surveys were conducted and a public forum was held back in January as part of the process. Leadership Advantage's fee was not available as of press time.

"You don't have to live in Fair Haven, but you do have to act like you live in Fair Haven," Morasco had said at the forum was a salient qualifying factor for candidates.

Patch will follow up with more information after the meeting.