Why NJ's Superintendent of the Year may now lose job in Ringwood
Ringwood school board members voted Wednesday to block an automatic contract renewal for Superintendent Nicholas Bernice, who this month was named New Jersey's Superintendent of the Year.
The board's decision negated a pending 4½-year renewal of Bernice's term to start next year and could see the seven-year superintendent ousted after June 30, 2024. The resolution confirming the decision said "the board requires additional time to consider whether to offer Dr. Bernice another contract of employment."
Board members said blocking Bernice's automatic reappointment was required to permit negotiations of new contractual terms, but they did not comment further.
Appointed superintendent in the summer of 2016, Bernice started his current contract on Jan. 1, 2020, and last year received a $221,684 salary, district records show.
Bernice, a former principal of Leonia Middle School, was named Superintendent of the Year this month by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators. He is now among those in the running for the National Superintendent of the Year Award from AASA, the American Association of School Administrators, in February.
During Wednesday's Board of Education meeting, staff members, students and residents offered Bernice congratulations and thanked him for his dedication to the district. Among other tributes, more than a dozen second grade students from Peter Cooper Elementary School offered a book they wrote, illustrated and published for Bernice, who also works as the district's curriculum director.
"I am so proud of this district and this man as our superintendent," said Mary Kunert, a borough resident. "In a time in our nation, and even around here, of very, very negative, biting, attacking, scheming people, we have very, very positive vibes here."
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Some in the community said they fear that the school board's decision to block an automatic contract renewal is a sign they plan to replace Bernice in 2024. He has been sharply criticized by some residents and board members for his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, student safety protocols, academic shortfalls and state-mandated changes in sex education curriculum, among other issues.
During Wednesday's board meeting, Bernice said he understands that many are not happy with some of the goings-on in the district and thinks there is "a great deal of divisiveness in the community."
"It's not necessary," he added. "It's fueled by some bizarre feeling that I have yet to put my finger on exactly. I've been trying to figure out how to quell those upset feelings for a very long time."
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Adam Bambrough, a district father, said he fears that a politically motivated disruption in district leadership could have negative implications for the schools and their students.
Yet others, including some in the crowd during Wednesday's school board meeting, have said the district could benefit from new leadership. Richard Ebersbach, a former board member, said he is particularly concerned about lacking academic performance under Bernice. He said Bernice is responsible for a failure to use "evidence-based curriculum" and employ proper interventions for low-performing students, leading to slipping levels of proficiency.
"It's a systemic issue," Ebersbach said. "We're choosing a bad curriculum under the auspices of Superintendent Bernice."
Bernice said he is aware of lagging performance and said district officials are seeking to integrate better tools for student analysis and instruction. It is not clear whether Bernice intends to negotiate terms for a contract extension with the board. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Superintendent of the Year may lose his job in Ringwood
