Watchung Hills Board to Get Extra Help

Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education members OK'd a plan to ask former state Education Commissioner William Librera to guide the board's upcoming retreat.

The board retreats are used to set goals for the coming school year; at Monday's meeting, Superintendent Elizabeth Hewett suggested having Librera conduct the retreat to help set priorities for her first year as well.

"With Bill's experience and Bill's knowledge of the board, he's really the best one to facilitate this," Jewett said.

Several members balked at the need for an outside guide, as well as Librera's $1,500 fee. Librera had been hired by the board earlier in the year to head the district's search for a new superintendent that led to Jewett's appointment.

"Is it fiscally responsible to hire a guy for something we should take care of ourselves?" board member Chris Collins said.

Collins was joined by Lisa DiMizio, Peter Falzarano and Harold Grossnickle in voting against the plan, but Board President Robert Horowitz cast the fifth vote in favor of hiring Librera to pass the resolution.

The board is also considering changing the meeting time of the Oct. 21 meeting to begin at 6 p.m. to allow for the "retreat" after concluding regular board business.