West Milford board appoints Dr. Bridal Kitchen as superintendent, approves five-year contract

The West Milford Township Board of Education voted to appoint Dr. Bridal Kitchen as superintendent, effective July 1, 2024, and approved a five-year contract through June 30, 2029. The board announced an annual salary of $205,000 for the position.

Board member Mrs. Reccano moved the appointment; the motion was seconded and the chair called for roll call. A subsequent motion to approve a contract with Dr. Bridal Kitchen was taken separately and recorded in roll call: Missus Van Dyke and Miss Smartborn are recorded as abstaining; Mr. Steinlewicz, Mr. Khan, Mr. Lippy, Missus Clark and Miss Locke are recorded as voting yes. The motion carried.

Dr. Bridal Kitchen, who addressed the board after the votes, described his leadership approach as collaborative. "I'm the bridge between you and the schools," he said, adding that his role is to "tap into the collective strengths of the staff" and to ensure parents feel comfort and trust in the district's work.

Kathleen Helliwa, owner of Kathleen Helliwa Educational Consultants LLC, the firm that guided the board's search, praised the board's process and told the community, "You did everything right." She told the board the non-conflicted members listened closely to stakeholders and candidates and conducted a candid, well-informed search in executive session.

The board opened and closed a public comment period during the meeting and several members offered congratulatory remarks. The chair said there was no need for an executive session and adjourned the meeting at about 7:20 p.m.

The appointment is effective 07/01/2024; the board approved a contract term through 06/30/2029 with the salary cited during the meeting. The transcript records the motions, roll-call responses on the contract approval, the superintendent-designate's introductory remarks, and consultant comments supporting the process.