Newark School Superintendent Clifford Janey has only been on the job for a month, but he's already stepped into the eye of the storm.

Dr. Janey serves as the lead educator in a district with 75 schools and 42,000 students. The new superintendent previous led the Washington, D.C. public school system for three years until he was fired by the mayor in 2007.

In an exclusive interview with News 12 New Jersey, Janey's talk was all business. The superintendent says he expects his teachers and principals to be focused educators.

"When you see talented teaching going on in school, you'll see the kids engaged," he says.

Janey did not hold back on the state's involvement in the education of Newark's youth.

"Quite frankly, this is the most over-regulated jurisdiction I've encountered," says Janey.

The superintendent says New Jersey's network of agencies delay implementation of policy in the schools. One of his top issues at hand is the opening of Newark's new Central High School on time.

"I didn't see any contingency plan when I walked in here, so I may have to construct one," he says.

A meeting is set for Aug. 11 to determine whether the school will open on time. If not, students may have to go back to the old school for classes.