Verducci: District Needs 'Permanent' Principal at Central School

Glen Rock school officials say they want to shut the revolving door for principals at .

With the , the elementary school off the main strip will be on its fifth principal in six years.

"I know there's a great deal of concern about that and understandably, that they've been through a number of principals over the course of the last few years," said Superintendent David Verducci. "Our goal is to get a full-time, permanent replacement in that position as fast as humanly possible. We're shooting for July 1 if at all possible."

He later added: "One of the biggest and most important criterion for what we will use is looking for someone who will be there for a long time. We understand that's what people want and need at this point. We're right with you."

Verducci outlined the process to replace Matteo on Monday night.

Various teachers, HSA members and adminstrators will start the initial screening process, interviewing about four-to-eight candidates over the next few weeks. Afterward, Verducci said, he will interview the top one-to-three candidates recommended by the screening committee.

"Depending on how those interviews turn out, I will bring one or two candidates for the board to meet," Verducci said. "My goal is to get that going and move that forward as fast as possible because we have to assume whoever is offered that position will have a 30-60 day waiting period. So I would like to see this appointment made before the end of May, so that when September rolls around we have a permanent principal in place."

Should a principal be appointed June 1 and can take office August 1, an internal administrator will cover the building for the interim. "I want to be very clear that is not our intent," Verducci said.

Addressing comments made questioning why the district didn't do more to keep Matteo in Glen Rock, Verducci remarked that he and the board weren't made aware of his intent to leave until he had already signed a contract in Ramsey.

The superintendent, , said there are 86 candidates who have applied thus far.

"I did a cursory look through them and some candidates look really strong," Verducci said. "We're not making any decision about internal candidates, external candidates. I just want the best person for that building."