MONTVALE—Pascack Valley Regional High School students, staff, parents and residents have an opportunity on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. [this is virtual only, via Zoom] to express opinions on their expectations for a new superintendent search.
[The event was billed as live, at Pascack Valley High School’s auditorium, but in light of the aggressive spread of Covid-19’s omicron variant and in order that stakeholders be able to weigh in, on Jan. 4 the school board changed the session to Zoom. — Ed.]
PVRHSD oversees Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, serving students from Montvale and Woodcliff Lake; and Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, serving students from Hillsdale and River Vale.
As part of its effort to develop a superintendent candidate profile, in consultation with a search firm, the district has held a series of focus group meetings in December, plus sought community input through an online survey due back no later than Friday, Jan. 7, said district officials.
Work to replace P. Erik Gundersen, who left the district six months ago after serving 10 years as superintendent and over 27 years in various educational positions, heated up recently with trustees bringing Strategic Educational Advantage, a superintendent executive search firm, on board to help manage the process.
In early December, the district sent emails to teachers, mayors, administrators, chiefs of police, sending districts’ superintendents, parents’ associations, central office staff, and student organizations to hold focus groups to help gather input for a superintendent search.
“Focus groups are an important part of the search process, gathering input from teachers, support staff, administrators, parents, students and community members about the attributes, experience and knowledge they believe the new superintendent should possess,” said a school board email urging focus group participation.
“The focus groups also provide an opportunity for participants to identify challenges and opportunities upon which the new superintendent should concentrate,” said the district email.
The survey asks participants to identify themselves as an administrator, teacher, support staff, parent, community member or student, though responses are anonymous.
The Dec. 10 email from regional trustees spells out the consultant’s role in assisting a superintendent search and asks for community input.
The district said Dr. Michael Kuchar and Dr. Frank Auriemma are leading the search process, which includes conducting focus group interviews, surveying the community, and hosting an Open House Community Forum, “assuring the community has multiple ways to provide input as the search firm develops a candidate profile.”
The school board hired Dr. Daniel Fishbein last summer to serve as interim superintendent.
To participate in the Zoom forum, click here and use passcode 201305.