Morton talks of reaching for goals in Sparta's schools

Sparta - Dr. J. Thomas Morton came to the Sparta school district four years ago already a seasoned school administrator. His first years here have been full and eventful ones, and he said he feels fortunate to be in Sparta when the school system and the township are on the threshold of what he feels is an exciting new era. He said he is both proud and grateful to have led the successful effort to set Sparta schools on a path toward excellence. Before coming to Sparta, Morton had 21 years of experience as a public school district superintendent. Morton has also served as a principal and a vice principal, and taught high and middle school math and science. He has also been an adjunct professor at Montclair State University, holds a B.S. degree from Bucknell University, and a Master’s of Ed. and Ed.D. from Rutgers University. He belongs to numerous professional associations, including the American Association of School Administrators, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the New Jersey School Development Council, among many others. He has served on the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Council of Education, and is a regular presenter at educational and administrative conferences, having written numerous articles on curriculum, assessment, and school funding. Morton and his wife Sue, who is also an educator, are the parents of three daughters, one of whom is an educator, as well. When asked to describe what he feels are his most significant accomplishments since coming to Sparta, Morton cites what are always his primary areas of focus: revamping the curriculum, improving district-wide academic standards, and renovating and upgrading the high school facility. “These are all still in progress,” he said, “but we are well on the way to achieving success in all of these areas.” Morton said he realized when he arrived four years ago that, “We had to increase the academic standards in the district.” He added, “We’ve hired a number of quality administrators and have an administrative team and a quality staff that fully buy into high academic standards. We’re making great strides in academics.” For the first time in many years, Sparta High School is in the top 75 schools in New Jersey (Sparta is currently number 73). He said, “This is a positive indicator that we’re moving in the right direction.” One of the greatest barriers the district has faced in its quest toward improving the curriculum and academics, he said, has been Sparta’s limited and outdated school facilities. When he arrived in town, the Enrollment Growth Task Force was already in place. They made a recommendation to the board for a new elementary school. The community did not support it. Morton said, “At that point it was my decision to get as much community input as possible to determine facility needs that would be supported by the taxpayers. We began the Community Facilities Taskforce and, after many years of work, we were ultimately successful in passing the referendum for a new high school.” During the past seven months, he and some members of the new board of education have locked horns on a number of occasions, often in public meetings. Many residents have aligned themselves with one side or the other and have become very vocal at meetings. It is no secret that the superintendent and the board have had a tenuous relationship lately. Morton said, “Different people have different communication styles and different organizational leadership styles. In the past, I’ve always had positive relationships with board leadership. I anticipate that will happen here, too.” He added, “I’m pleased that we have so many dedicated citizens who are willing to come to meetings, take part in discussions, and voice their questions and concerns. It shows their level of commitment to education in Sparta.” Morton says his focus is, and always has been, to provide the best education he can for the students of Sparta: “Anyone that knows me, knows I have an unwavering commitment to our district goals. No matter what road blocks slow my journey, I’ll continue with what I see is my mission - to increase the academic standards of the district.” Asked whether he felt the board has put road blocks in his path, he replied, “The board’s job is to evaluate me on the job I’m doing. It’s really not my place to evaluate the board. It’s the public’s place to evaluate the board.” The recent attempt by the board to bring a motion against the superintendent set off a lot of community speculation. No action was taken after the motion was discussed in closed session on Nov. 29. Morton was asked if, in his experience, this is a common practice for boards and superintendents. He said, “I don’t know how common it is for a board to take such an action against a superintendent, but the superintendent would have to be very derelict in his job to justify it. That is certainly not the case here.” Morton was asked whether he ever felt his job was in jeopardy in the last few months. He responded, “Not for a moment. Good things are happening in this school district, and public support for our initiatives is very strong.” The public has also expressed concern that apparent personality conflicts between the board and administration may distract them from the immediate needs of the district, such as the building project. “Whatever contention exists will be worked out,” he said, adding, “Nothing has distracted me from moving ahead with the goals of this district., The board’s plan to initiate a Communications Committee, in an effort to improve the flow of information for the public, is a good idea, said Morton. “This kind of thing has always been my style,” he said. As to the future, Morton was asked what he would like to be said about this school district 10 years from now. “The first thing I would like to be said is that it is a quality school district.”