Schools

BOE Approves Crisfield as Next Superintendent

His five-year contract is worth $219,500 in the first year, and he starts work in Millburn on July 1.

The Board of Education Monday night appointed James Crisfield as the district's next superintendent with a five-year contract worth $219,500 in the first year.

By unanimously approving the contract and his appointment, Crisfield will become the district's next superintendent on July 1. He comes from the Warren School District and was first introduced to the public in February. Crisfield was not at the meeting Monday night.

As part of his benefits, the contract requires Crisfield to contribute 2 percent to his health plan at the family level coverage and 1.5 percent of his salary for any other level of coverage.

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Under his contract, Crisfield would have 24 annual vacation days. Of those days, 10 days could be carried over to the following year, but they could not be carried further than the next year. He also would have five personal days, which cannot be carried over.

The contract also includes 100 sick days carried over from Crisfield's current job in the Warren School District. Sam Levy, the board's Superintendent Search Committee chairman, said the carry over of sick days is commonly done in other school districts.

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Jeffrey Diecidue, a member of the public, questioned the criteria that would be used to review Crisfield, but Levy said the board was advised to not comment. When pressed, though, Levy said the board has used a criteria form set by the New Jersey Association of Boards of Education, but it doesn't always use the form.

The Board of Education presented Crisfield as its choice as the next superintendent in February. State law, however, forced the school board to wait until after the school election to appoint him as the next superintendent officially. He will take over as the district's superintendent on July 1 after Schools Supt. Richard Brodow retires. Brodow announced last May he would retire after eight years with the district.

Crisfield currently serves as the superintendent in the Warren School District, which is a K-8 district. He's been with the Warren School district for nine years.

He started his teaching career at Summit High School before serving as a business administrator with the East Hanover Board of Education. He served as assistant superintendent in Warren before becoming superintendent in 2004.

He is a Stanford University graduate and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after college. He earned his masters of arts in teaching from Boston College and his doctor of education and master of education from Rutgers University.


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