Calabria: 'Ready to Move On' From Seitz Issue

Parsippany Board of Education President Frank Calabria said he is "exhausted" after the latest go-round in the body's back-and-forth with the state Department of Education over the contract of the district's superintendent.

"You would think there was nothing else for us to do," Calabria said. "But there is the budget and contract negotiations and the turf field. And there are all of those students counting on us to teach them.

"How long have I been president? Ten months?" he asked. "This contract business has been such a distraction."

The most recent distraction was the latest threat from Executive County Superintendent Kathleen Serafino. Twice in the past 10 months, Serafino has held the prospect of Parsippany public schools losing up to $3.6 million in state aid over the BOE's head because of the .

The  to explain its plan to recover about $38,000 in alleged salary overpayments from Seitz. According to the Department of Education, Seitz was overpaid under a  even after the .

Parsippany answered in a letter dated Jan. 30 that it will use the courts to get the money back from the superintendent, who now receives $177,500 annually in keeping with the superintendent salary cap imposed by Gov. Chris Christie early last year. 

Calabria confirmed that the school board is going to sue Seitz for the approximately $38,000.

"It's our only legal recourse," he said. "We have no choice but comply with the state's directive."

The board president said he directed the district's attorney, Mark Tabakin, to take whatever means to "end this thing." 

Tabakin has not responded to requests for comment.

State Department of Education spokesman Justin Barra did not offer many details.

"They have filed a petition with the Commissioner of Education," he said, adding that because litigation is involved, he cannot provide details.

Barra, however, said the executive county superintendent has one concern.

"The superintendent's salary is required to stay within the legal cap." he said. "She has worked with the district to get it into compliance."

Seitz has declined comment on the issue. His attorney, Andrew Babiak, of the New Jersey School Administators Association, did not respond to requests for comment.

As much as he would like to move on, Calabria said it's clear to him that the Seitz contract matter is only picking up steam.

"I just want this to be over so we can focus on what really matters," he said, "the kids."