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After Head of School Dr. Howard Rosenblatt recently announced his retirement, the board of trustees of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley (SSDSRV) began the search for his replacement last week.

"When you put your time into a project, you hope your time is well spent, that there's continuity, even if it goes in a new direction," Rosenblatt, who was at Schechter for four years, told The Jewish State about his expectations for his future successor. "Whoever comes in will hopefully help us reach new horizons."

SSDSRV is a K-8 Jewish day school located on the campus of the East Brunswick Jewish Center in East Brunswick.

Rosenblatt's announcement in November to retire surprised many, said Micky Kaufman, the immediate past president of the school. The board of trustees immediately assembled a search committee to find his replacement, which will be chaired by Kaufman.

Kaufman said that the dozen-person search committee is composed of a cross-section of the community from parents and grandparents to educators and local synagogue leaders.

The first committee meeting took place three weeks ago, and Kaufman said they are moving on a "fairly aggressive" timetable in order to have a new head of school by early summer to be ready for the next school year.

"We're obviously looking for outstanding educators in both Jewish and general studies," Kaufman said. "Someone who can lead the school effectively -- lead teachers [and] connect with parents, lay leadership, and students."

"Someone experienced not only in the academic world, but also as an education administrator," he added.

Neil Weiss, board president and the parent of three current students at the school, emphasized the need for a head of school that understands the importance of Jewish education.

"We want someone who has the leadership experience that's committed to and has a passion for Jewish school education," Weiss said. "Someone who has a vision for the school, who can bring energy to the school and new students to the school and retain the students we already have."

The committee began advertising the position Dec. 21 and within three days had received seven job applications, according to Kaufman.

Weiss said that the committee is pursuing an open search and is looking beyond current staff at the school.

"We don't have anyone we feel internally that has the requisite skill set," he said.

Rosenblatt, who joined Solomon Schechter four years ago after a long career as an educator and administrator, has presided over significant growth in the school and changes in the curriculum.

In addition to curriculum changes in the math, science, reading, Hebrew language, and Jewish studies programs, the school has also recently a constructed a science lab, funded through a gift by the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education, part of the Gruss Life Monument Funds.

In September, the East Brunswick school was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, one of only two Jewish schools in the nation and the only private school in New Jersey that received the honor this year.

"He has a tremendous commitment to Jewish education in general, and our school particularly," Weiss said of Rosenblatt. "He has made wonderful changes and improvements including in the curriculum and fundraising."

"He's done an excellent job, we like him very much," Kaufman added.

Rosenblatt has high expectations for his successor.

"I hope it will be someone who will take this place higher and higher," he said.