Superintendent's Bid to Delay Resignation Rejected by School Board
Tie vote kills measure some members said would have helped BOE deal with upcoming vacancies.
Photos
The retirement date for departing Superintendent of Schools LeRoy Seitz will remain May 15.
At the end of its five-hour meeting last week, the Parsippany Board of Education took up the issue of Seitz's request to move his resignation date from May 15 to June 1, a matter that had been tabled at its Feb. 26 meeting. A tie vote killed the measure.
On Feb. 26, the superintendent said the reason for his request was that he realized after submitting his resignation letter that according to state regulations, employees must exit on the first day of a month and that he must use, rather than be paid in cash for, unused vacation time.
Board member Michael Strumolo moved that the item be tabled. President Susy Golderer agreed, saying members needed time to assess the request and noted that Seitz announced his resignation after an executive session following the Feb. 12 meeting, when Golderer was not present and most residents had departed the building.
Board attorney Mark Tabakin told the members that tabling the matter, which appeared to involve the superintendent's ability to collect his pension and health benefits, would be "prudent."
When the board ended its private post-meeting session Thursday, in which the tabled item emerged as promised and a discussion took place, Golderer called for a vote.
Frank Calabria, Anthony Mancuso and Fran Orthwein voted in favor of delaying Seitz's resignation date to June 1. Strumolo, Vice President Sharif Shamsudin, James Carifi and Anthony DeIntinis voted to reject the superintendent's request. (Member Gary Martin, who attended most of the BOE meeting, did not return after the executive session and was not present to cast a vote.)
Mancuso said he didn't understand why four of his fellow members would oppose the superintendent's request.
"The board previously asked Dr. Seitz to have some overlap with the interim," he said. "These two weeks would have been critical in that area."
Even without the pressure the board may face in getting an interim replacement on board, Mancuso said he still would support giving Seitz the time he requested.
"I am of the opinion that Dr. Seitz has been an outstanding employee for us and found his request to be reasonable," he said. "Because Dr. Seitz will be using his vacation time between [the end of April] and May 15th, and that we will also be without a business administrator during this period, it seems to me that the board missed an opportunity to provide the interim superintendent with needed information about our district at no additional cost to us.
"That is, if the board can identify and vote on a qualified candidate that can start between now and May 15th."
Member Fran Orthwein agreed.
"I felt a vote in favor of the extension would only benefit the district by giving Dr. Seitz additional time to put things in order for a successor and saw no detriment to him remaining in our employ for an additional two weeks," she said. "It was a decision I made [in] the best interests of the children in our schools.
"I cannot speculate on what reasoning others may have for an opposing vote. It saddens and upsets me to even think about it."
Member James Carifi said his no vote was informed by the impression that Seitz's request would mean an additional cost to the district.
"I was hoping that he would clarify why he specifically (not just 'pension reasons') needs the additional two weeks, but that did not occur," he said, adding that he holds no ill will toward Seitz and would not want to subject the superintendent's family to any difficulty with his pension or benefits. "If it is not the case that there would be a financial impact on our district for the additional two weeks, I would be more than happy to revisit his request."
Vice President Shamsudin said he voted no of his own accord, and that he is not a member of any faction.
"My vote had nothing at all to do with my colleagues; I vote the way I see fit," he said. "I was told that he miscalculated his pension and that was no reason for me to change the date. If [Seitz] knew he wanted to [exhaust vacation] time before he retired he should have told us upfront."
Calabria, Strumolo and DeIntinis did not respond to Patch's request for comment.
"He has health care benefits through his wife, meaning he is not on our plan," said Mancuso. "So [the two weeks] would not cost us anything."
Seven of the board members cast votes: Four opposed and three in favor.
President Golderer, seeing the 4-3 vote, pondered her vote aloud and turned to the board's lawyer. Tabakin said that the motion required five yes votes and, thus, could not carry.
"Then my vote won't make a difference," she said.
"Unless you want to send a message to the superintendent," Tabakin replied.
Asked on Saturday what that message was, the lawyer said he did not recall making that statement. Mancuso and Orthwein both attest to hearing him say it.
In the end, Golderer voted yes to make a 4-4 tie and announced the motion's failure.
During the Thursday executive session, the board had a visitor: William Labrera, a former New Jersey education commissioner and school superintendent who now is a representative for educational search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates of Rosemont, Ill.
The board cast another vote after its meeting, approving $18,000 for a request for proposals to hire a firm to help them find interim and/or permanent replacements for its soon to be vacant administrators' positions.
Shamsudin noted that Labrera's firm was not hired and that the HYA employee's purpose was "to educate us on how to perform a proper search."
"He is a wise man and his help was appreciated," said the vice president, who added that Labrera counseled the board to speak with as many search firms as possible. "He answered many of our questions and gave us free advice."
Orthwein said she did not understand why the board met with Labrera in executive session.
"Why did we have to go into closed session to discuss RFPs for a superintendent search firm?" she asked. "Why couldn't that be discussed in public? It's not like [the public doesn't] know [Seitz] is leaving."
Patch passed the question on to Golderer. She has declined to comment on the record.
steve revette
7:34 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Dr. Seitz was the one who decided the date. I find it hard to believe that somebody cannot retire on any date except the first of the month. I think it definitely sounds like it has to do with his pension.
Kramit The Frog
9:07 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
"On Feb. 26, the superintendent said the reason for his request was... that according to state regulations, employees must exit on the first day of a month and that he must use, rather than be paid in cash for, unused vacation time."
steve revette
12:16 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
So whose fault is that they don't know the rules?
mark
8:01 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
They guy was a nasty stuck up old man . We need new blood . A person for our children not there pocketbooks! Period, your done Seitz! Go home to mommy!
Phil L
9:06 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Absolutely guys! Good riddance -- the sooner this district moves on the better.
Deb Ritter
9:09 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
It is about time this school board puts its foot down and reigns this administration in. (and puts an end to the Poster Boy of Greed era)
C Moratta
9:18 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
It bewilders me that to the dying end, Calabria, Orthwein and Mancuso will drink that Seitz Kool-Aid even if it benefits students, parents and community NONE.
Vice President Shamsudin summed it up well. VP Shamsudin independently determined Dr. Seitz ".... he should have told us upfront." Amen!!!
Seitz is a victim of his own bad math too bad. He is already leaving the community with a mess to clean up.
M Jarrett
9:35 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
You got that right C Moratta. Just two of the messy highlights this highly-paid, unaccountable school administrator, under no effective BOE supervision, leaves behind are:
1. ELEVEN of Par-Troy schools FAIL to meet federal No Child Left Behind proficiency standards for 2011. Dr. Greed basically advises the district to dismiss the findings. Majority on the board say NOTHING.
2. The disparity of student educational performance scores between the two high schools become more apparent with the east side markedly lower than the west as highlighted by NJ Monthly's biannual ranking of Top 100 High Schools:
2012 - Par-High 86 Par-Troy Hills 23
2010 - Par-High 84 Par-Troy Hills 50
2008 - Par-High 104(not the top 100 anymore) Par-Troy Hills 87
2006 - Par-High 84 Par-Troy Hills 87
And three (Calabria, Orthwein and Mancuso) on this BOE pull strings for a superintendent who can't accurately do his own math? Incredulous.
Get this Poster Boy of Greed out the door... and FAST.
Kramit The Frog
9:44 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Oh do shut up. Find me an educator that thinks No Child Left Behind is a worthwhile standard and I'll show you a former first lady.
As for the disparity between the high schools, that's always been there. It's more pronounced lately, but it's always been there. Get your head out of your butt. And learn to read: the article clearly states that it's because of a state regulation Seitz was unaware of when he made the initial request. Do you really think he wants to be in this township with a hostile BOE any longer than he absolutely has to? Incredulous indeed.
Michael M
9:56 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Gotta love it -- an educator at the superintendent's level is the victim of his own bad math -- what poetic justice!!! What would make this more hilarious is if some of his degrees were in math.
But Seitz does have expertise in manipulation Kramit the Frog -- getting paid lots for doing nothing. Seitz he has manipulated you along with the "Pips" on the BOE, Seitz's back-up singers on the board, better known as Calabria, Orthwein and Mancuso. For the money this district has paid this worthless superintendent, this district whould have more successes and accomplishments under its belt than what it has.
Kramit The Frog
10:24 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
And what, exactly, do you think is happening on the BOE right now? Mike Strumolo & his gang of four are going to make the Mancuso/Seitz era look like a walk in the park. You're going to look at Dr. Seitz' tenure the same way people look at the Clinton years. Remember that? We were SO anxious to get rid of the malarkey of Clinton's presidency we literally voted in a man who was the complete opposite. And he screwed things up so badly that most Americans now look back on the 1990s as a golden era, a time when the economy was good and housing prices were stable and things were oh so much more pleasant. Monica Lewinsky, who's that? Whitewater? Never heard of it. You watch: after Strumolo & Co. get through with Parsippany, you'll be wishing Dr. Seitz had stayed on. And you're right: he isn't that good. But what's about to come will make him look like a genius by comparison.
M Jarrett
10:10 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
@Kramit the Frog -No,YOU shut up.
Raise your standards, you live in a world of mediocrity. And while it is too late for you to improve in life, get out of the way to allow for this district to experience an upgrade to its educational status.
So Kramit's excuse for not having an overpaid administrator successfully close the widening gap on the disparity is: "... the disparity between the high schools, that's always been there. It's more pronounced lately (under Seitz's watch BTW), but it's always been there."
You Kramit The Frog, the lackluster three on the BOE and this outgoing useless superintendent are what is wrong with the district.
The students, parents and taxpayers of Parsippany deserve better than your gang's blase, lackadaisical, cavelier way of thinking.
Kramit The Frog
10:35 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
What are you, 9? Is that the best you can come up with? Why not try the "I'm rubber you're glue" defense next.
I live in a world of mediocrity? I'm not the one trotting out NCLB, a standard that was nearly universally derided by anyone who knows anything about education. Even the Bush administration admitted that NCLB was a bad idea.
If you think that Mike Strumolo and his gang of idiots can find a better superintendant than Seitz for less money, you're delusional. And Seitz wasn't all that great, to be honest. I was very angry when Mancuso pulled his shenanigans with the Seitz contract and even before that. I'm the last person that's going to defend him. But if you think that what's about to happen in the next 6 months is going to be any better, then you clearly have not been paying attention. If you think the screwing you got from Mancuso and Seitz was bad, it's going to feel like a massage at the Four Seasons compared to what Strumolo & Co. are about to do. And all in the name of the "taxpayers' best interest." But watch who really benefits from the changes you all want so badly. Watch as your school system consistently gets worse and your property values decline. You think this is the end? The malarkey has only just begun.
friend of parsppany
10:19 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
It is perplexing to me why the 3 board members support seitz so much. What exactly are his strenghts. Most teachers could walk by him and not recognize him. What did he stand for ? What is his legacy? Folks-there needs to be strong leadership in this district. Not everyone has it-they need to find someone and the board needs to put their personal agendas aside and put the kids first.
M P Monahan
11:04 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
You are laughable Kramit --- Face it -- Seitz was a mistake and an educational failiure for this district for the amount of money spent. You don't have to be a Stumolo fan to see THAT -- all you have to be is a residence witnessing the circus.
So stop couching every slam against the Kool-Aid consuming Calabria, Orthwein and Mancuso as criticism coming from a Stumolo fan. You couldn't be farther from the truth.
Karmit The Frog is exhibiting symptoms of paranoia- your lillypads must be laced with a potent toxin with which scores of side effects are associated.
Dan O'Dowd
11:16 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Absolutely friend of parsippany. Agreed!!
Just wish we could send the three Seitz-loving BOE members out the door simultaneously with him.
friend of parsppany
11:52 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Calabria-why do you still want to be there?
John M
12:05 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
I don't know about the other 2, but Calabria has 2 daughters and a daughter-in-law working as teachers in Parsippany. Another daughter is going to college to become a principle. He was planning to stick around until she graduates and Seitz was probably going to get her a job in the school system as a principal. Lets find out if the other 2 have relatives working for the Parsippany school system. Maybe that will explain why they're so supportive of Seitz. Just a thought.
Alan C
11:55 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
MP Monahan, don't waste your time with Kramit the Frog.
Others are accurately labeling Kramit as an idiot on the Gun Buy Back Story here on the Patch.
mark
1:23 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The secretary, another over paid employee, $90,000. To sit and take notations! Seriously!
friend of parsppany
1:35 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
It is often said that Joni benos runs the district. A secretary. Not sure if that is who u are referring to.
mark
2:42 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
If that's Mr Seitz's secretary then that's the woman. If she does its 90,000 well spent. Should give her theposposition! Lol at her salary! Parsippany will save big-time.
Robyn M.
2:43 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
$90K? Maybe over $100K.
I posted this on another thread, but reposting:
Here is the current (not new) budget: http://www.pthsd.k12.nj.us/PTHSD%20budget12-13.htm. Under "Salaries & Benefits of Certain District Employees" - I don't think this includes teachers, it seems to be just administration. This list has names and salaries, with titles that are very vague - googling yielded more specific titles:
LeRoy Seitz, Superintendent Seitz: $177.5K
Mark Resnick, business administrator: $147K
Paul Saxton, interim director fo personnel: $147k
Ruth Ann Estler, director of curriculum: $147k
Suzanne Olimpio, director of special services: $122.4K
Susan Tindal, Admin Assistant to the Business Administrator: $103.9K (annual work days 223, 22 vacation days, 15 sick days)
Joan Benos, Admin. Asst. to Superintendent: $100K (annual work days 223, 22 vacation days, 15 sick days)
Judy Corrente, Information Systems Manager: $97K
Thomas Gaveglio, Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds: $86.7K
Joanne Caponegro , Director Adult & Community Education (PACE): $86.2K
Roman Hoshowsky
9:30 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Out of all those people Joan Benos is probably the hardest working person there.
Sick of the Bull
8:28 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Do we really even need a Superintendent. They are all just political hacks. I am sure a lot of these positions could be combined and no one wold be overworked. For sure the Super. would not be missed.
friend of parsppany
4:00 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
John m: sounds about right regarding Calabria. I figured it was something like getting jobs for the family.