This is the board's second go-round in searching for a superintendent. The previous two finalists abruptly withdrew.
TRENTON -- A representative from the company hired to assist school board officials find a new superintendent says they hope to have a candidate by next summer.
At a meeting Thursday evening, Dr. Michael Rush, of Ray and Associates, Inc., said that he has presented the board with a tentative timeline that should place someone in the position by July of 2017.
"A lot of good superintendents are out there and our goal is to find the right match," Rush said.
"Trenton is just like any other urban district," he said. "The challenges are not any more or any less than any other district."
Rush went onto to say that he thinks Trenton being adjacent to Philadelphia and New York City would be a huge draw for candidates.
This is the board's second go-round in searching for a superintendent.
Two finalists had emerged in the first search: Sergio Paez, the former superintendent in Holyoke, Mass., and Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, the former superintendent in Albany, N.Y.
Trenton reopens search for superintendent
Both withdrew their names from consideration following public meet-and-greets earlier this year.
The timeline will be voted on for approval on the board's upcoming meeting slated for September 19, he said.
Rush says the search will consist of student interviews, advertisement placement, parent feedback and community meetings.
He hopes the search will produce between eight and 12 qualified and thoroughly-vetted candidates which the board may choose from.
Rush said the company has experience in finding superintendents for urban school setting and that the company just finished assisting East Orange in their search.
Greg Wright may be reached at gwright@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregTheWright. Find NJ.com on Facebook.