A week and a half ago on October 28th, the Asbury Park School Board ended their superintendent “search” and appointed Acting Superintendent Rahawn Adams as superintendent for a contract that goes through June 2026.. Despite the close attention typically paid to the tumultuous district, not a single media outlet covered the news.
Worth noting: When the agenda for the public board meeting was originally posted, there was no mention of the appointment. However, the current copy has an “Addenda” (see below) that lists the appointments of Adams, as well as Lauren Jackson for Thurgood Marshall Elementary School principal. Jackson is replacing former principal Reginald Mirthil, who resigned in September.
It is unclear if this lack of public notice is compliant with state regulations. The agenda item also fails to list Adams’ salary.
NJ Education Report printed the rumored selection of Adams and Jackson on Oct. 28th. There is no other media coverage.
According to other school board agendae, the Asbury Park School Board paid New Jersey School Board Association $12,500 to oversee a thorough superintendent search. There is no information available on whether the Board interviewed any other candidates or availed itself of the services available to them through NJSBA , which was paid for through state taxes. There is no mention of the search in any public Board documents.
Adams’ background and his relationship with former Asbury Park superintendent/NJ Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet is available here.
The district staff directory still lists Adams as “Acting Superintendent” but he will host “Meet and Greet” sessions with community members next week. In this flyer Adams is listed as “Superintendent” without qualification:
Here are the “Addenda” in the Oct. 28th agenda:
1. WHEREAS, a vacancy exists for the position of Superintendent of Schools of the Asbury Park School District; and WHEREAS, the Asbury Park Board of Education engaged the New Jersey School Boards Association to conduct a search for a Superintendent of Schools; and WHEREAS, at the conclusion of the Superintendent search process, the Asbury Park Board of Education selected Dr. RaShawn M. Adams to serve as Superintendent of Schools; and WHEREAS, on or about October 27, 2021, Dr. Lester Richens, Executive County Superintendent for Monmouth County, reviewed and approved the Superintendent of Schools employment contract between Dr. RaShawn M. Adams and the Asbury Park Board of Education, effective October 28, 2021 through June 30, 2026, in accordance with State law and administrative code, and further authorized the Asbury Park Board of Education to take action on the Superintendent of Schools employment contract at its next public Board of Education meeting; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Asbury Park Board of Education appoints Dr. RaShawn Adams as its Superintendent of Schools, effective October 28, 2021 through June 20, 2026, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the employment contract that was approved by Dr. Lester Richens, Executive County Superintendent for Monmouth County, on October 27, 2021; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board Vice President, Board Secretary and Board Attorney be and are hereby authorized to take any and all actions that are necessary in order to effectuate this action of the Board.
Dr. Lauren Jackson PCR#: 1507-900-007-00001 Assignment: Principal Location: Thurgood Marshall Elementary School Salary: $118,500, Step 1 of 2021-22 Elementary Principal Salary Guide Effective: November 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 Account: 15-000-240-103-100-10 Replacing: Reginald Mirthil
