School Board Plans for Post Bing Future

The Bloomfield school district officially ended the Bing era this week.

The Bloomfield School Board confirmed on Tuesday night that Schools Superintendent Jason Bing had resigned from his position but declined to provide any further explanation, citing contractual restrictions. While board officials said the decision was mutual, they indicated that there were major issues with the budget Bing left behind.

Director of Human Resources/Labor Relations and General Counsel Nicholas Dotoli announced that he will act as temporary Superintendent. School officials said Dotoli would not apply for the permanent job and would step down when a permanent Superintendent was installed.

Dotoli said while most interim Superintendents are be either act as placeholders or create disruptions, he would be neither. He said he would be accountable for the two month and two week period he would oversee the district and would seek input from the community. He added that his compensation would be the same as General Counsel.

Dotoli warned that Bloomfield school’s “horrible budget cycle” was not yet over. While he did not specify what form they would take, he said the district needs to make cuts over the coming months.

He obliquely criticized the recently passed budget, saying that much of it was premised on overly optimistic, “creative,” assumptions.

“I have a new understanding of other decisions that have to be made,” Dotoli said. “I’m not looking forward to them.”

Dotoli and school officials did not specify what cuts would be made. However, during public comments, Bloomfield Education Association President John M. Shanagher indicated 47 teaching positions were on the chopping block.

Parents at the meeting praised the outgoing Superintendent, saying Bing was responsive to parent concerns and worked to unite the community through initiatives like reaching out to Hispanic parenting groups. Bing was hired in January of 2011 and signed a five-year contract. 

Ditoli said there would be a presentation on May 21 where he would offer a clear vision of his plans for the short term future of the district.