Hunt on for school leader Number of potential candidates for new superintendent at 34. Monday, March 17, 2008 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | After a first round of advertising for Phillipsburg's new superintendent drew a narrower than expected pool, a second wave has widened it to 34 potential applicants. That was the total number of requests for applications as of Thursday afternoon, and anyone interested has until March 28 to apply. Joanne Borin, a field representative for the New Jersey School Boards Association, said typically half of those who request applications actually apply. Initially only 24 application packets were requested and nine were returned. "We got some very good candidates but we didn't feel we got enough of them," Borin said. The NJSBA is assisting the Phillipsburg School Board with the search to permanently fill the superintendent seat left vacant when Gordon Pethick left the district in January. George Chando, who has been with the district for 33 years, has been serving as acting superintendent of the roughly 3,750-student district. Chando, who has been director of secondary education, said he has applied for the superintendent job. Borin thinks high demand for top administrators in New Jersey may have led to the fewer number of applicants in the first round of advertising. The association assists in about 75 percent of searches statewide, Borin said. Right now it is conducting 20 to 25 superintendent searches. That is the highest number of searches it has conducted at once, said NJSBA spokesman Frank Belluscio. Belluscio noted that it appears there are fewer vacancies in the southern region of the state as compared with the northern and central regions. NJSBA figures published in 2006 show 67 districts in New Jersey hired new superintendents in the 2005-06 school year. Extending the process pushes their original timeline back a bit but Borin said it is still possible for the district to hire someone by mid-June. "I think it will be worth it," she said. "We're looking for a good, quality person." She plans to give board members all the applications at the end of April. After closed-door interviews narrow the list to two finalists, Borin expects the district will host a community forum in May. "I know the board is anxious to sit down and evaluate the resumes with representatives from New Jersey School Boards Association," said school board President Paul Rummerfield. Qualifications for the job include a superintendent certificate, five years of principal and/or central office experience and classroom teaching experience. Experience as an assistant superintendent or superintendent is preferred, Borin said. Borin would not comment on a salary range for the position, saying it would be negotiated between the district and potential candidates. Pethick's early separation agreement set his 2006-07 salary at $148,977. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.