Crisfield Plans to Spend Summer Listening

The new schools superintendent will be talking with people to learn about them and the district and the issues they face.

New Schools Supt. James Crisfield plans to do a lot of listening this summer. "There's a lot of listening to be done here," he said during an interview on Friday. "If you listen carefully to people you can really get not only what they're saying but what they're not saying and, that's key... If you listen carefully you can get some more information." Crisfield took over the Millburn School District's top job last Thursday from Richard Brodow, who retired last week after eight years in the job. Crisfield kicked off his tenure with a welcome reception where he got to meet many members of the school staff. He toured the Education Center and met most of the staff there. And it's something he wants to continue through the summer—meeting the …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Brodow Reflects on Eight Years as Superintendent

He retires from the school district on Wednesday

There was a day not so long ago when Millburn Schools Supt. Richard Brodow was downtown to get a sandwich for lunch. He parked his car near the movie theater on Millburn Avenue, and three high school students stopped him to say hello when he was returning to his vehicle. It's moments like that, and the ones he has nearly every day in Millburn-Short Hills schools, that he says he'll miss. "You treasure those moments where the kids know who you are," he said. "I care about kids and I care about how they're doing. I'm only sorry this job prevents me from spending more time in our schools knowing more kids." Wednesday is Brodow's final day after eight years as the district's superintendent. He's retiring after a half-century in education. And …

• Photos (1)

Brodow Attends Final BOE Meeting as Superintendent

His final day before retiring is Wednesday.

Millburn Schools Supt. Richard Brodow's final day before retiring is Wednesday, but Monday night marked his final Board of Education meeting. Brodow gave a long list of thank yous to staff, parents and others who have supported him during his eight years as the district's chief school administrator duirng his final superintendent's report Monday night. When he came to the district in 2002, New Jersey Magazine ranked Millburn High School at 13. Two years ago the high school was ranked tops in the state. Brodow credited the ranking, one which he predicts the district will retain in the fall, through the hard work of teachers, students and with the support of parents and the community. He said he hopes he had some small part in helping the …

• Photos (1)

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. Under his contract, Crisfield would have 24 annual vacation days. Of those days, 10 days could be carried over to the following …

• Photos (1)

BOE Expected To Appoint Crisfield Monday

It will hold a public hearing on his contract before voting on it during Monday's school board meeting.

The Board of Education will hold a public hearing Monday night on James A. Crisfield's contract to serve as the next superintendent for the Millburn School District. "Assuming there is no reason not continue with the appointment, there will likely be a resolution to appoint Dr. Crisfield as the new (superintendent) after the hearing is closed," said Samuel Levy, BOE Superintendent Search Committee chairman, in an email message. The board is scheduled to meet at 7:45 p.m. on Monday at the Education Center. The board is required to hold a hearing on the contract under New Jersey law, and it will be available at Monday's meeting, Levy wrote. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the terms of the contract, but the school board won…

• Photos (1)

Crisfield Is Millburn's Choice for Superintendent

He comes from the Warren School District.

The Millburn Board of Education has selected James A. Crisfield as its schools superintendent candidate. He is the superintendent in the Warren School District. The school board held a special meeting Wednesday night to introduce Crisfield, and a meet-and-greet was held after the brief formal session. What attracted him to Millburn was the emphasis on education in the township and the community support for it. He loves the interaction between the community and the schools, Crisfield said. "We may disagree, but it is all for the same common goal," he said. A Summit resident, he said he is very familiar with the community for non-education reasons and because he is a neighbor. Board President Noreen Brunini said the board chose Crisfield …

• Photos (2)

Superintendent Candidate To Be Introduced Wednesday

A special Board of Education meeting has been scheduled for 6:45 p.m. at the Education Center.

The Board of Education is poised to introduce its candidate for the superintendent position on Wednesday. A special school board meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. at the Education Center. The only item on the agenda is "Public Introduction of Candidate for Chief School Administrator." Board President Noreen Brunini did not have any news to release about the superintendent candidate earlier today. The Board of Education announced on Monday it had one candidate for the superintendent's position. The candidate was to meet with about 40 people—administrators, teachers, parents and members of the community—during sessions on Thursday. People who attended the sessions had to sign a confidentiality agreement. The board, by …

School Board Has One Superintendent Candidate

Up to 40 people will get to meet him on Thursday, including a panel of community representatives.

The Board of Education has one schools superintendent finalist they are bringing to a select group of public representatives to meet this week. The school board Monday night presented the results of its interviews with superintendent candidates and outlined a plan for teachers, staff, parents and others to meet the candidate. The name of the candidate has not been revealed nor has a contract been offered to him. But it was revealed the candidate is from a neighboring district and is well-liked there. It's expected the candidate will be made public at the Feb. 22 meeting, following meetings with groups representing constituent groups. Samuel Levy, the board's Search Committee chairman, said the one candidate was the board's overwhelming …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Public Renews Request for Involvement in Superintendent Interviews

The Board of Education will be holding semifinal interviews with candidates on Friday and Saturday.

As the Millburn Board of Education prepares for first-round interviews for the schools superintendent job, parents again renewed their request to be involved in the interview process Monday night. The school board is to meet with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates in executive session Monday night to receive resumes for candidates. The board will then interview the semi-finalist candidates in executive session Friday night and Saturday morning. During this week, the board plans to decide how the public—parents, teachers, administrators and others—will be involved in the finalist interview process. Parents have expressed concern and requested to be involved in the process several times since October, and Rona Wenik, PTO Conference co-…

• Photos (1)

BOE To Interview Superintendent Candidates

Candidate interviews are set for Jan. 15 and 16.

The Board of Education is preparing to interview candidates to be the Millburn School District's next superintendent. The board will meet in executive session with associates from Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, who are assisting with the search process, in executive session on Jan. 11. At that time the associates will present with resumes of candidates to be interviewed by the board, said Noreen Brunini, board president. "We don't know any of the candidates at this point," she said. The board will then set up interviews with those candidates for Jan. 15 and 16, the following Friday and Saturday. It's at that time the board will determine its finalists for the position. During the week of Jan. 11 is when the school board will also …

• Photos (1)