Update, Aug. 1: The email address for providing feedback to the district on the hiring of an MMS principal is not functioning, according to a district spokeswoman; the new email is communications@somsd.k12.nj.us. It is corrected in the body of the article as well.
The South Orange-Maplewood School District sent an email this afternoon to parents and families of Maplewood Middle School students with the subject line “Update on MMS Principal Search & Invitation for Input.”
The email reads as follows:
Dear MMS Community,
On Monday, July 28th, the Board of Education appointed Mr. Louis Brown, currently Assistant Principal, to serve as Interim Principal as of August 25th, 2014 as we continue the search for a new permanent principal for MMS. The Board also appointed Mr. Mark Gold, currently a teacher at MMS, to serve as Interim Assistant Principal for the 2014-2015 school year. Dr. Jonathan Shutman will serve as Interim Assistant Principal during the time that Mr. Brown is serving as Interim Principal. Dr. Shutman has over 20 years of experience as an assistant principal and principal in the Montclair, North Brunswick and Marlboro public schools.
The search for a new principal has already begun. Administration is narrowing the pool and interviews will take place in August. The interview committee is still being formed, and will consist of MMS staff members, parent representatives, and district administrators. Following the interviews, the committee will recommend 2 or 3 candidates for further evaluation.
We invite input about the characteristics the parent community would like to see in an MMS principal. If you are interested in providing feedback, please email communications@somsd.k12.nj.us by Thursday, August 7th with your responses to the following questions:
1) What are the two most important questions you would like asked of each candidate?
2) What are the top 5 adjectives you would use to describe an MMS principal?
Your feedback will be used to inform the interview process.
Thank you for your input.
James Memoli
Acting Superintendent
