The Cedar Grove-Belgium School District faced criticism after listing “Christian values” and “conservative politics” as desired traits for their superintendent position in a public school. The posting was amended following concerns raised by potential candidates. The firm hired for the search promptly removed the problematic criteria after being alerted to them. The school board president acknowledged the error, emphasizing that personal opinions expressed in focus groups should not influence hiring decisions. Legal experts and organizations like the ACLU expressed concern over the potential violation of anti-discrimination laws and announced plans to investigate further. The superintendent search was subsequently reopened due to a lack of suitable candidates in the initial round. The incident sparked debate and raised questions about the hiring process and inclusivity in the district.
