Months after the former superintendent decided she no longer wished to retire and sued the district alleging a hostile work environment, a new superintendent for the Westwood Regional School District was hired Thursday night.
The nine-member school board unanimously, with one abstention, approved appointing Patrick McQueeney with a five-year contract starting Nov. 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029.
McQueeney’s salary for the 2024-2025 school year will be $250,000, prorated, said Business Administrator Keith Rosado.
Heather Perin, who has a relative who works in the district, was the sole abstention due to conflict of interest, but thanked her fellow board members who worked "so hard on this."
McQueeney currently works as the superintendent of the Wanaque School District. He thanked the Westwood board and was “beyond thrilled to lead the Westwood schools.”
“Westwood is a great place that I want to be for a long time," he said. "I look forward to working with the community, the board, the administrative team, the teachers and most importantly, our students and making sure they get the experience they deserve.”
McQueeney has been superintendent of Wanaque since July 2021. Before that he was an assistant superintendent of curriculum and staff development for the Sparta Township school district, according to his LinkedIn page. His former experience includes being a teacher and principal.
McQueeney earned a bachelor's degree in physical science from Rowan University, a master's in material engineering from Rutgers University, and an MBA and doctorate in education for Centenary University.
School board president Jay Garcia said that McQueeney was the person the school board had extended an offer to earlier this year before the former superintendent Jill Mortimer decided she was not going to leave her position.
Board settled with Mortimer for $400,000
Mortimer had originally announced last year that she planned to retire this year, but later stated in April that she intended to stay at her post . The school board had spent months doing a superintendent search before Mortimer’s abrupt reversal.
During the months-long search, the board had found Mortimer's replacement, but because the superintendent had never submitted a formal letter of registration, she stayed in her position.
Mortimer, who board members said had asked for a $1 million buyout, later sued the school district alleging a hostile work environment. The district agreed to a $400,000 settlement .
Bronwen Calderón, Westwood Regional's director of secondary education, was appointed as acting superintendent during a Sept. 5 meeting until the permanent replacement comes on board.
Board praise for McQueeney
Before Thursday's vote, Board Member Andrea Peck said she was excited to vote for McQueeney and to see the district “move forward and come together.”
Board member Loni Azzolina echoed Peck’s sentiments and said that the hiring of McQueeney “represents a new and fresh start for our district that’s been sorely needed for many, many years.” Board member Jorge Pertuz said the board was on the “cusp of starting something I think is really good.”
Board member Kristen Pedersen said McQueeney was “a truly confident and honest, very strong leader” and the fact that the board unanimously agreed on hiring him was an “absolute miracle and speaks volumes about Dr. McQueeney.”
Garcia said that “it’s no secret to anybody else that we have a lot of difficulty agreeing on just about anything as a board,” but looking to hire McQueeney as the new superintendent had caused some “great discussions” that “inspired” Garcia when he saw how the board came together.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Wanaque school superintendent will head the Westwood Regional School District
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