Interim Schools Boss Faces New Challenges at His Old District

By KAREN KELLER, SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

CLIFTON Anthony Barbary has his work cut out for him as the school district’s new interim superintendent.

Having formerly worked in Clifton schools for 31 years, he inherits some contentious issues, including crowding and a long- running legal battle to build a new school.

On Monday, Board of Education members said they expect a smooth transition.

“He knows our needs, he knows the staff. He needs very little update,” said Marie Hakim, board president.

Barbary will oversee the district’s expansion of full-day kindergarten, construction of a walkway at the high school and the board’s legal battle to construct a school at 290 Brighton Road.

Barbary worked most recently in the district as assistant superintendent, from 1999 to 2003.

Superintendent Michael Rice started in 2002 and is leaving Aug. 10, three years before his contract is up. His salary is $191,018. The two men will work together for two weeks, said Karen Perkins, district business administrator. She said Barbary begins work Monday with a one-year contract and will be paid $192,000 with no health benefits.

Board member Lizz Gagnon said Barbary, in contrast with Rice, is receptive to public opinion.

“He’s a little bit more open-minded when it comes to the public,” she said.

But Barbary, of River Edge, will need to be brought up to speed on the board’s legal battle to build a school at Brighton Road and the rising number of English as a Second Language students, said board member John Traier.

Barbary said he’s already familiar with many of Clifton’s newer policy objectives because he helped to create them several years ago. He said initiatives he helped establish include ensuring that every new teacher in the 10,500-student district is assigned a mentor teacher, and that teachers of the same subjects structure and pace classes in the same manner.

Since leaving Clifton in 2003, Barbary has worked as an administrator and consultant for the 3,500-student Tenafly school district.

(SIDEBAR, page L03)

Fast facts

Background of Anthony Barbary, Clifton’s interim schools superintendent:

Age: 59

Residence: River Edge

Marital status: Married, no children

Work experience: Clifton school district (1972-2003): Music teacher, principal of Schools 5 and 8, assistant superintendent; mentor of newly appointed school principal in Tenafly (2003-04); adjunct faculty member at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s School of Education (2004-05); interim assistant superintendent and consultant for the Tenafly district (2005-07)

Education: Doctorate of education in administration and supervision (Seton Hall); educational specialist in educational leadership (Seton Hall); bachelor of arts and master of arts in music education (Montclair State University)

Source: Anthony Barbary

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