Cresskill — After an exhaustive five-month search, the Cresskill Board of Education has selected a former Bryan School principal as its new district superintendent.
Loretta Bellina will replace resigning Cresskill Superintendent Charles Khoury, who leaves this month to go to the Ardsley School District in New York. School authorities said June 12 that a formal board appointment would likely occur at month’s end.
"It’s going to work out well," said Khoury. "It serves everyone well that they can have stability and [that] she’s not unfamiliar with the district."
For the past eight years, Bellina has served as the Ho-Ho-Kus School District superintendent with a student population of 670 students in grades Pre-K to 8. But before Ho-Ho-Kus, Bellina served 11 years as Cresskill’s Bryan School principal.
School Board President Rebecca Singer said that the candidate’s previous experience in the district was a factor in her selection.
"The board felt that her previous experience here would allow her to quickly assimilate into her new role as superintendent," said Singer.
Recruiting firm Leadership Advantage reviewed more than 30 applications, narrowing the search down to 10, then three people in the last few weeks.
"I had some conversations with board members and recruiting members some time in May," said Bellina. "I’m certainly happy in the position I’m in, but the thought to return to Cresskill was appealing."
Many of the ongoing initiatives in Cresskill match those Bellina has already undertaken. in Ho-Ho-Kus, said school authorities.
The school board president said that Bellina has "the background and experience" with initiatives like Balanced Literacy, New Math and Measures of Academic Progress Testing.
"And I have some sense of what the community wants," said Bellina.
She said that she hopes to bring additional technology upgrades to the school and to oversee the completion of Cresskill’s $31.2 million in renovations bond plan.
Concerning school budgets, Bellina said that the Ho-Ho-Kus School District passed its budget this year with a 2:1 ratio. Similar to Cresskill’s defeated budget, she said, the Ho-Ho-Kus school budget failed last year by a slim margin of 27 votes.
Her first plan of attack: to work with the mayor and council by scheduling community meetings.
"I would like to get a pulse on where everyone is, what they want to enhance [and] target these areas," Bellina said.
E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711
