PVRHSD—The Pascack Valley Regional High School District school board voted to hire a superintendent search consultant Nov. 15 to help in replacing P. Erik Gundersen, who left at the end of June following 27 years of district service.
The district is now helmed by interim superintendent Daniel Fishbein, most recently an educational leadership consultant with the South Bergen Jointure Commission and longtime superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools.
No information was offered at the meeting following the vote. When a signed contract is available we will report on its details.
Gundersen accepted an offer as superintendent in the Suffern Central School District in April at a base annual salary of $265,000. He served 10 years as PVRHSD superintendent.
Regional trustees voted to hire Strategic Educational Advantage LLC, River Edge, for a base fee of $17,500, said Yas Usami, board business administrator and board secretary, on Nov. 16.
District spokesman Paul Zeller, director of communication and technology, said the board would have a kickoff meeting with the consultant within weeks and discuss a timeline for the hiring.
“The Board of Education values the input of the community as they embark on hiring the next superintendent. With the consultant’s help and guidance, the Board will seek input from the public on what they feel is most important in hiring the next superintendent,” Zeller said.
He added, “The board will give updates throughout the process; however, given this is a personnel matter, candidate names and interviews are considered confidential.”
Strategic Educational Advantage LLC of River Edge includes CEO Dr. Frank Auriemma and President Dr. Michael Kuchar.
An archived prior proposal to Wall Township Public Schools showed the consultant had conducted searches in Belleville, Boonton, and Secaucus.