Public Input Invited as School District Searches for New Superintendent

Toms River education officials want to hear from residents as they begin the search for the school district's new superintendent. 

With current superintendent Frank Roselli, 61, retiring at the end of June due to health concerns—a year before his two-year contract expires—the Board of Education is in the process of finding a new leader for Toms River's regional school district.

"We see the best results when our parents take an active role in their children’s education," said board President Ben Giovine in a statement. "Selecting a new superintendent will have a profound effect on our district, and it’s important that our community and our parents have a voice in that selection process."

Public meetings will be held on:

Thursday, June 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the High School North auditorium and Saturday, June 15 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. in the High School East cafetorium. For planning reasons, those interested in attending are asked to RSVP through email, indicating which meeting they plan to attend. 

Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, based in Illinois with a New Jersey satellite office, , according to Business Administrator William Doering. Some other fees may be paid by the district, such as placing advertisements for the position. 

The information received at the two public forums and through an online survey to be posted Monday on the district's website will be used by the search firm to help develop a candidate criteria, according to district spokeswoman Tammi Millar. 

Roselli served as assistant superintendent for over eight years before being appointed to lead the district in 2011 following the resignation of disgraced superintendent Michael Ritacco. 

The outgoing superintendent said that he has been "blessed" to have been an educator for the past 40 years, 32 of which were spent in Toms River. 

"I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life," Roselli said in his resignation letter, which he closed by writing that the children "always come first."

The school board held candidate interviews last week for the positions of interim superintendent and interim assistant superintendent. Joseph Pizza, who held the former post last year, will retire as of June 30.