Kuder Denied Interim Post; Board to Vet Applicants

The Wyckoff school board will conduct a search for an interim superintendent after voting against continuing Richard Kuder's tenure in the district's top role without reviewing other candidates.

The board voted 4-3 on a motion put forward by member Elizabeth DeGregorio after an overwhelming display of public support for Kuder, the acting superintendent who has submitted himself as a candidate for the post created by Dr. Janet Razze's impending retirement. DeGregorio's motion, seconded by board Vice President Lisa Martone, was met with a standing ovation from a crowd in which speaker after speaker implored the board to not spend time on a search, backing Kuder for the interim job if not the long-term superintendent's role.

"Sometimes the answer is right in front of your face," said parent Cynthia Phillips.

The board leadership, President Anthony Robert Francin and Martone, voted with DeGregorio to forgo a wider search and extend Kuder's service past its June 30 end date. Members Thomas Giamanco, Catherine Runge, Diane Sobin and Jill Mortimer denied the motion, citing ethical obligations requiring the board to do its "due diligence" before making a decision.

"It is incumbent upon this board to seek out and review each and every candidate's curriculum vitae, interview prospective candidates and ask pertinent questions regarding each candidate's vision of the district's goals," Giamanco said.

Mortimer told the crowd that "not doing a full search for both positions would speak to a lack of integrity," while Sobin agreed with Giamanco that it is "incumbent on the board to do a complete and thorough search."

The decision frustrated the crowd at Eisenhower Middle School, filled with teachers, adminstrators and parents who stood to praise and endorse Kuder, the principal of Eisenhower.

Former board member Danielle Swenson, speaking from the audience, said she hopes the board's "due diligence isn't the appearance of due diligence" and that when they "review your pile of resumes, his (Kuder's) is always at the top."

Sobin and Giamanco said after the meeting that their vote should not be taken as commentary on Kuder's viability as a candidate. Both said they would be shirking their responsibilities as board members if they appointed Kuder without reviewing other applicants.

The argument didn't sit well with much of the audience, which saw no value or sense in potentially bringing in an outsider to fill the role while the board conducts a search for Razze's permanent replacement.

"The board simply does not need to be distracted by a search," said Jennifer Cole, the Washington Elementary School PTO president. She called Kuder an "attentive, respectful, responsive" administrator who has "earned the respect of all" and would "provide the district with much-needed stability."

Christopher DePhillips, a member of the Township Committee who has served on the Wyckoff Education Foundation board and has children in the district, was "disappointed in the vote" which was "contrary to the will of the people.

"Conducting a search is a waste of time and money" and a "distraction from the priorities the board should be focusing on" when the board has a candidate with "universal support in the community," DePhillips said.

Pending vacancy

Kuder has been serving in the administration since Razze went on medical leave in early April and has said he's interested in the permanent superintendent's post. However, his temporary term will expire at the end of this month, a move made by the board before it was known whether Razze would return to the district.

The superintendent's decision to retire potentially leaves the district without a permanent superintendent for months. While the board hasn't yet formally contracted with the New Jersey School Boards Association or an outside firm to help in a search, members have indicated that they will solicit applicants before deciding on the district's next leader. 

"We will eventually officially decide to perform a search," said Francin, who called the process the "industry standard" among school boards.

Yet, the district must have a superintendent in place by July 1, whether on an interim or permanent basis. The board indicated that Kuder will be considered for the interim role but will be reviewed along with other applicants, whose resumes have been arriving since the board posted the vacancy on the Web.

That posting largely prompted Monday's public hearing, as the "decision to do a search was made in a private (executive) meeting," Francin said. "It didn't sit well that a decision of that magnitude was made in that manner," said the board president, who feels it's "important we start off on the right foot" with the public.

Following DeGregorio's surprise motion, the board voted 5-2 to authorize the advertisement after the fact. Francin and Martone voted against the motion, which had been on the evening's agenda. However, members said that they have received enough resumes for the temporary position to make a greater search unnecessary. 

Francin said the board's goal is to review all applicants by its next meeting, on June 21. However, a special meeting could be called before July 1 if the board isn't in a position to act on the vacancy by its next meeting.

Public support

The district's stakeholders were unanimous in their support for Kuder at a meeting that turned contentious as the hours passed by. 

Scott Blake, the Washington Elementary School principal, spoke on behalf of the administrators' union in saying Kuder has "set himself apart as a leader in Wyckoff.

"I strongly encourage you to continue with Richard Kuder as acting superintendent," Blake said.

Kathy Bowers, the Wyckoff Education Association president, echoed Blake's comments.

"The WEA overwhelmingly agrees with the administrators that a search for an interim superintendent is detrimental to the district. The district needs continuity that can only be found in permitting Mr. Kuder to resume the role of interim superintendent.

"We need to move forward. We can only be certain to keep the flow of the district moving in that direction under the leadership of someone who understands the district and knows both its failure and success stories," Bowers said.

Former board members Ray Hovey and Dan Moynihan agreed with Swenson that Kuder deserves the interim post.

Hovey received a standing ovation when he suggested that the board forgo a search and select Kuder for the temporary job. Moynihan, the former board president, said it was "my intention... to remove that acting title.

"Let's maintain consistency," Moynihan said. "To bring a new body in would only cause turmoil."

District teachers Nellann Berg and Harold Olejarz also rose to support Kuder. Berg, a 27-year veteran, said Kuder has the "keen ability to understand where we have come and where we need to go." Olejarz praised Kuder's ability to handle children with "grace and ease."

Many said it would be a mistake to bring in a new person who will likely face a learning curve while the board conducts its search for a permanent replacement for Razze.

"I'd hate to see someone come in here and not know what the district is about," said Corinn Scher, the PTO president at Eisenhower school, who called Kuder a "man with vision."

George Licitra, a retiring district teacher, said the best superintendents Wyckoff have had have "come from within.

"The people who come from here know what needs to be done," Licitra said.

Retiring teacher Robert Santin agreed and called Kuder "among the finest administrators I've had the pleasure to work with" in his 39-year career.

At least some of the board members agreed with the public's arguments. Martone said, "I don't see why we would want to make another change," to a round of applause from the crowd. She agreed with the argument for consistency, saying it's "really important that we don't stop what we're doing."

The board was prompted for its comments after lengthy public debate. DeGregorio's feelings were expressed by simply making a motion to appoint Kuder for the interim post.

Much of the crowd began filing out after the vote, with the tone of subsequent comments from the existing public increasingly expressing frustration at the board's actions.

Kuder was present for the entire proceeding, sitting stoically until called upon to deliver the superintendent's report following the public hearing.

Francin said the entire board will be involved in the process of reviewing applicants for the interim and permanent posts.