BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, N.J. —— Five candidates were interviewed Nov. 14 by school board members to fill the unexpired term of a former trustee who resigned from the nine-member board due to moving out of town.
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Following consultations after the interviews, board members selected a candidate, said Board President Lynne Stewart. Stewart, who was not present for the interviews, declined to name the selected candidate.
“It was a very positive experience for everyone,” said Stewart. She said the chosen candidate was the “best fit” for the position.
The new trustee will be appointed at the Dec. 11 meeting.
Former trustee Sherri Rothstein resigned from the board in October due to a planned move to Englewood and trustees posted for the vacancy on the district website. The unexpired term runs from Dec. 11, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2018.
The five candidates who applied include: Meena Dogn, Amir Ziv, Alan Rosenberg, Katherine Beecher Carlburg, and Jane Juhng.
Letters of interest accompanied by a resume were required to be submitted to the board secretary, Yas Usami, by Nov. 8, according to a letter posted online at the Tenafly Public Schools’ website.
During public interviews held Nov. 14, the five candidates were asked a series of seven similar questions with follow-ups from board members. Questions posed to each candidate included: what they see as “key challenges” for the school district and how to address them; specific experiences with the school system; what they see as a board member’s primary responsibility; and why they wish to serve on the board.
Other questions concerned what specific strength or talent they bring to the board; where the district and school board could improve; and where they see possible savings or improvements being made in the budget that would allow funds to go to new programs or tax relief.
Stewart said the candidate interviews will be posted online and that after closed consultations following the interviews, the board selected a candidate.
Stewart said the candidate was notified and will be officially announced at the Dec. 11 board meeting when a resolution authorizing their appointment will be voted on.
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According to its online posting, some qualifications of interested candidates include: U.S. citizenship, no contract with or claims against the board, at least 18 years old, ability to read and write, a minimum one-year Tenafly resident, registered district voter, not holding office as mayor or a member of the council, not simultaneously holding two elected offices, and not disqualified due to a criminal conviction or offense.