New school super in Jamesburg

BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

JAMESBURG - After months of searching and interviewing, the Board of Education has hired a new superintendent of schools.

Gail S. Verona, who is currently the assistant superintendent in Elmwood Park, Bergen County, will take over for Shirley Bzdewka, who is retiring after four years as Jamesburg's superintendent.

Though Verona is required to provide 60 days' notice before leaving the district, Elmwood Park officials have agreed to let her go earlier, on July 17, if they are able to find a superintendent before that time, according to Jamesburg Board of Education President Donald Peterson.

Verona, who will also serve as principal of the middle school, will start at a salary of $127,500 per year in Jamesburg.

Before taking her position in Elmwood Park, Verona served as an assistant superintendent for the Old Bridge school district, and director of special services in Spotswood. She has also been a school principal, and was for many years a teacher and supervisor at the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School, East Brunswick.

Peterson said the board was pleased with the final four candidates interviewed for the superintendent's job. The board, which was assisted by the New Jersey School Boards Association in the search, had whittled the field of candidates down from an initial 20 applicants this spring.

Board members were impressed with Verona's background in vocational and technical instruction, and special education, as well as her experience serving an assistant superintendent and school principal.

"In a district like Jamesburg, it's a key component for that kind of position," Peterson said.

Jamesburg has about 650 students

between the John F. Kennedy Elementary School and the Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School. The district sends its high school students to Monroe on a tuition basis.

Because of its size, the school district has a very community-oriented approach to operating its schools, "not just in an educational aspect, but in events and things like that," Peterson said.

The new superintendent has to flexible.

"Our administrators wear many hats, so we needed someone versed in special education, vo-tech, as well as sending and receiving because we send our [high school] kids to Monroe," Peterson said. "There were a great many things we were looking for, and Dr. Verona had experience in a lot of areas."

Peterson said that although the district is in "good shape," there are always areas that can be improved.

"If you aren't moving forward, you are going backwards," he said.

Verona said she is familiar with the Jamesburg area, having lived in East Brunswick for more than 20 years. She described Jamesburg as a "very warm, close-knit community where they pull together for the kids."

In fact, that size and attention to education were two important factors in her decision to take the job, she said.

As superintendent, Verona said it will be very important for her to "establish communication with some key stakeholders in the community."

Verona also wants to use her expertise to analyze students' test scores in math and reading, she said, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the students. She also wants to incorporate technology into the regular curriculum.

Near to her heart is an appreciation of the arts, because she is also an accomplished pianist. Another of her goals it is to enhance the arts program in Jamesburg school, especially in the music portion, she said.

Peterson said one aspect of Verona's resume that appealed to the board was her experience with data. That will come in handy as the district seeks to improve its state test scores.

"Dr. Verona will find out what areas throughout state testing we are lacking, so we can address these needs more specifically," Peterson said. "She can also look for gaps in the curriculum throughout the elementary and middle schools."

Peterson said the board feels continuity is very important in the curriculum.

"We want everything to run straight with no gaps," he said.

Verona's salary represents an increase of about $7,500 over what the salary Bzdewka would have made.