After a search process described as "intensive and sometimes grueling" East Penn School District's Board of Directors unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. J. Michael Schilder as superintendent of schools at their board meeting March 24.

Schilder, 60, was one of two candidates in the first round of the search run by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. He won out against William King, superintendent of Scranton School District. His four-year contract will become effective July 1.

Schilder is the former superintendent of Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District in New Jersey, where he served for seven years to 2013. Prior to that he was superintendent at Clinton Public School, also in New Jersey, for eight years.

Schilder will serve as acting superintendent, as his certificate to serve as a superintendent in Pennsylvania has lapsed. The contract agreement stipulates Schilder must reactivate his certificate by the end of the 2014-2015 school year or risk termination by the board. In the meantime, he will be compensated at $165,000 annual salary until his certificate is reactivated when his salary automatically rises to $168,500 through June 30, 2016.

As part of his contract Schilder receives group term life insurance, dental and disability insurance. Schilder says he is six credits or 180 hours away from achieving an active certificate, and it will certainly take him less than a year to do.

"We thank Dr. Schilder for his willingness to come join us and we look forward to his leadership," Board President Alan Earnshaw said. Then of incumbent Dr. Thomas Seidenberger, "We do not discount the leadership we've had which has been beyond outstanding."

Seidenberger plans to retire in June.

Schilder thanked the board for their faith in him. "I was so impressed at the enthusiasm here of everyone I met," Schilder said. "You have a great system here and programs of wonderful quality."

Schilder is the father of two children. He lives in Milford, N.J., with his wife who is a school nurse. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Newtown in Lower Bucks County, Schilder began his educational career in 1976, teaching fifth grade in Central Bucks School District.

In the 1980s, he served as a guidance counselor in the Central Bucks School District and then as elementary principal at Hopewell Valley Regional School District until 1992.

He describes his most recent superintendent experience at Bridgewater-Raritan as similar demographically and in population to East Penn. The former hosts about 9,000 students, while East Penn is just over 8,000 students. As administrative leader of East Penn, Schilder expects many of the same challenges which confront districts all over the country: increasing enrollments, unfunded state mandates and new teacher evaluation systems.

With a possible tax increase looming, Schilder will see East Penn into a new fiscal year. His view on the balance between taxing and programs is one of moderation on either end of the scale. Schilder spoke against enhancing programs "for the sake of enhancement; there's got to be a good reason for it." He wants to see evidence based reasoning behind program expansion how it's going to affect student achievement, and why existing programming isn't working.

Of his leadership style, Schilder said it is "candid" with an emphasis on common sense.

The public was given the opportunity to meet Schilder at a forum last month. He noted his personal practice of responding directly to residents and parents at this and other board meetings.

"I try to be as transparent as I can and answer questions directly."

The second candidate for superintendent of schools, William King met with the board of directors and the public also last month. King is superintendent of Scranton School District.

King, 51, has been superintendent for just over five of the 29 years he's worked in Scranton School District. And in that time he expressed confidence in a "vast experience" with common issues arising in every school district: safety, class sizes, construction programs and state funding to name a few.

King's stress was on the shared responsibility of district staff and administration and on professionalism on both sides of the table.

King shared with the public the interview process had been a "great experience… I feel I'm a better person and educator for being given the opportunity to go through this process. I believe there are great things going on in this district," King concluded.