Mel Katz, who has led Montclair High School as its principal for the past four years, will be stepping down as the district-wide shakeup of school administrators continues.
Katz is the eighth top school official to leave Montclair’s public schools in the past two months as retirements, new opportunities in other districts, attrition and staff reductions forced by budget cutbacks are dramatically reshaping the administration of Montclair’s highly regarded magnet-school system.
Schools Superintendent Frank Alvarez said the moves have led to new assignments and promotions for current staff and include the formation of a new department, the Office of School and Community Relations.
Alvarez also disclosed a second top departure. District Supervisor of Math and Science Joan Moriarty will retire in September following 20 years of service in the district, including a stint as principal of Rand Elementary School.
In a statement issued by the district, Alvarez said that Katz’s retirement this summer comes after "10 years of outstanding service to the students of Montclair."
He indicated that the district has hired Judith Weiss, a former assistant state commissioner of education, as the interim replacement for Katz.
"We have benefited enormously from Dr. Katz’s contributions to this district, first as Glenfield’s principal and later as principal at the high school," Alvarez said in the statement. "From the beginning, he has embodied a strong leadership style that has helped set a positive tone for his schools. His service to our system, and his warm, gregarious nature, will be greatly missed by all of us."
"Dr. Moriarty has facilitated aligning math/science curricula across all levels, and she has been instrumental in applying for and receiving grant monies. She has worked closely with our university partnership in training teachers in ‘Everyday Math.’ She will be missed," stated Alvarez.
Katz is likely to remain involved in education, either as a college professor or as a mentor to student teachers, according to Alvarez.
Weiss will hold the interim principal position until a permanent replacement is hired. The district will create a search committee, with interviews of prospective candidates expected to commence in October or November. Parents and community members interested in participating in the principal search committee have been asked to contact the Superintendent’s Office.
While the most prominent, Katz’s departure is one of several key positions at MHS vacated or changed in the past few months. Assistant Principals William Gibney and Peter Renwick are leaving to take over as principals in other districts. Gibney will head Englewood High School and Renwick will lead Westfield High School.
Renwick will be joined at Westfield by Scott White, the longtime MHS director of guidance. White announced his departure a few weeks ago.
Although the departing staff will be missed, Alvarez stated in an e-mail to The Times, "We’re glad for them that they have spent their time here productively. When our assistant principals are hired by other school boards, it is a positive reflection on the reputation of our district. We see their success as our success. We can then go on to fill those vacancies so that they help us build a district that gets stronger and better over time."
Renwick, who had been assistant principal at the MHS Ninth Grade Academy will be succeeded by Francine Bonczkowski, the health and physical education supervisor.
The shuffle of top school officials began to emerge in May with the announcement of a series of changes involving elementary school principals. The moves were prompted when Alvarez named Felice Harrison to head the newly created Office of School and Community Relations. Harrison had served as principal at Nishuane School for the past 14 years.
In short order, Gail Clarke was tapped to take the reins as principal at Nishuane School. Clarke had been principal of Watchung School.
Cenithia Bilal, a language arts and social studies teacher on special assignment at the district’s central office, was promoted to assistant principal at Nishuane. Bilal was succeeded by Mt. Hebron language arts teacher Guy Whitlock.
Marcus Rhaney, the assistant principal at Glenfield, was selected to replace Clarke at Watchung. Anthony Benjamin, the health and physical education teacher at Renaissance, was named assistant principal at Glenfield.
Alvarez explained the moves were designed to increase the overall effectiveness of the district by "placing people where they’re most needed and can give their best."
Montclair’s 10 elementary and middle schools and its high school enjoy solid reputations. The schools are often cited as a main reason why families move to the community. MHS graduates are highly sought by major colleges and universities. However, results from tests conducted in May by a team from the state Department of Education showed a widening achievement gap for MHS minority and special education students.
In recent weeks, Alvarez said the district was not concerned about a talent drain of its most experienced key personnel to other districts offering higher salaries and benefits.
He explained that Montclair benefits from a solid group of middle-level administrators who have "performed in an outstanding manner, and whom we have been grooming for quite some time as potential leaders. We consider ourselves fortunate to have such a wealth of talent to draw on when making personnel decisions."
Alvarez pointed to recent changes in state requirements and the Department of Education core curriculum standards that make changes at the district and school level at this time both "necessary and positive."
"In education today, so much is changing rapidly. We have to make sure we stay ahead of the curve," Alvarez stated.
