Search for principal nears end BY JANE MEGGITT Staff Writer ALLENTOWN - The Board of Education may be able to vote on a new principal for the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School on Nov. 15. Principal Miriam Peluso submitted her resignation the day after school started in September. Her official retirement date is Jan. 1, but she will remain on duty at the school until Dec. 8 and take vacation until Dec. 22. Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Smith told the board at its Nov. 1 workshop meeting that a committee consisting of two parents, three teachers and two administrators went through approximately 70 résumés for the position. The committee found 14 potential candidates that it felt should receive extra consideration, he said. Smith and Assistant Superintendent Maybeth Conway independently reviewed the candidates' information and ranked the candidates. Their rankings were then compared, which led the committee to interview eight people for the job, Smith said. Committee members were asked to provide feedback after the interviews, and to assess the candidates' strengths and any concerns they might have. Smith said four candidates will return to the school district next week for him and another administrator to interview. He said he is asking each of the four candidates for a writing sample that addresses a hypothetical situation in the field of education. "I want to see how well they put language together and can analyze the particular situation," he said. After the interviews, Smith said he expects to select one or two candidates to go through reference checking. "I expect to have a recommendation on Nov. 15 for the appointment," he said. Board member Jeanette Bressi asked why the board was not involved with selecting candidates, as had been the procedure in the past. Smith said he had no problem with allowing the board to participate in the process, but that he didn't do it in this situation because it was also not done in the recent hiring of a supervisor of special services. Smith said the reason he did not personally participate in the first round of candidate interviews was so that he could do the follow-up interviews. He said the information from the committee does not constitute a recommendation, but focuses on strengths and concerns. Smith said there is a "very distinct break point" between the four candidates who are still in consideration and the four no longer being considered. "The four that aren't moving on are better at writing résumés and cover letters than they are at interviewing," he said. According to Smith, the new principal must give 60 days' notice to his or her current school district, although some districts would allow the person to leave earlier. If the candidate is approved on Nov. 15, the 60-day notice period would end on Jan. 13, he said. Board of Education President Joseph Stampe asked if there is a Plan B in place for elementary/middle school coverage if the job cannot be filled before Jan. 13. Smith said the N.J. Principals and Supervisors Association has information about people who could temporarily fill the position.