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Changes aren’t permanent, but change is.

The special board meeting called on July 28 was held in a classroom in Readington Middle School and something close to fifty citizens crowded into the space. The start of the meeting was delayed. People spoke freely and loudly during the wait, occasionally sending out expeditionary parties to hunt down a key to turn on the air conditioning or to find a fan to cool down the overcrowded room.

When the board members filed in, their demeanor suggested change, not just changes.

Five motions were on the impromptu agenda. E-1 passed, accepting the resignation of Pat Ryan. E-2 passed, accepting the resignation of Melissa Pieterson. E-3 passed, which created an interim principal position for Catherine E. Griffith in the Three Bridges School at a per diem rate of $450.00. At that juncture, board president Mark Berry noted that the search for a permanent replacement would begin in earnest in the November-December timeframe. Catherine is retired from Chatham School District and she lives in Flemington.

E-4 passed. That motion approved a medical leave for our current superintendent, Irene Benfatti. Board president Mark Berry asked that Irene’s privacy be respected while she deals with her illness. He did expect that her leave would likely be for a minimum of a period of months. The leave is effective beginning in August.

E-5 passed, with one abstention by Chuck Rutledge to avoid a conflict of interest. That motion introduced our new interim superintendent, Dr. James Sheerin. He will be paid a per diem rate of $650.00. Board member Rick Finn noted Jim’s uncompromising integrity and his possession of skills that will likely be helpful in resolving recent personnel issues in the district. President Mark Berry said after the meeting that Jim has a record of empowering administrators, teachers and staff members with the confidence and authority to do their jobs well. He believes that Jim’s style will be very well received by all.

After E-5 had passed, Jim stood up to introduce himself. Wearing a dark suit and presenting the tall, trim figure of a man confident in what he knows, he provided a brief introduction to his career. He has spent recent years as a sort of specialist in interim work, including stints in Clinton and Lebanon Boro. He has worked in other NJ districts too, such as Monroe, East Windsor, Milltown, Hackettstown and Livingston. He has been a superintendent, a principal, and a teacher in classrooms from elementary school through higher education. He also alluded to corporate and consulting work. He joked to a receptive crowd that his wife complains he cannot hold down a job.

Nearly the first words out of his mouth were, “I know there are issues here that need to be addressed.” With a warm smile and a promising glance, Jim noted that he looks for districts that are in a state of change because that is where he feels he can best apply his skills.

And that brings us back to change. We have been through many changes in the past year or so, but we have not approached the level of transformation that could be called change. Whether the parties involved were not up to the task, or unwilling to seek out the task, or unable to recognize the task is now a moot point. There are some good and valuable people who have left Readington. There are still some left. Now is the time for stakeholders to rally behind our new interim superintendent in the expectation that he will find the means to hold on to what we have left, find the means to begin rebuilding morale, and find the means to encourage the rooting of authentic change. There will be a time to discuss our unique desires for our district—a time to have a conversation about student assessment or curriculum, about bus schedules or enrichment issues. First, though, we must give Jim the space to perform triage and to stop the arterial bleeding from our deepest wounds.

Changes are not permanent because they can be reversed on a whim or superseded by another problem. Change is permanent. Change is revolutionary; it is an irreversible extreme makeover. That is what we need and that, according to a unanimous conclusion by the members of the board, is what we are about to get. Let’s all wish the very best to the good people who have left our district and let us welcome Jim Sheerin and Catherine Griffith. Change starts here and now.