BOE Granted Deadline Extension to Deal with Seitz Contract

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education has an additional two weeks to deal with the contract of Superintendent LeRoy Seitz.

Board President Frank Calabria told Patch that Executive County Superintendent Kathleen Serafino granted the extension late Wednesday night.

On July 1, Serafino declared the contract invalid that was struck last November between the Parsippany board and Seitz. She said the agreement, which would violate Gov. Chris Christie's superintendent salary cap, was beyond the scope of law. She said that if the contract was not rescinded by July 8, the Parsippany board would face a number of consequences, including the loss of state aid for township schools, ethics charges against the board and the termination of Superintendent Seitz's certification.

Because of the recent July 4 holiday, Calabria said that gathering the board and its attorney for an emergency meeting—and allowing the state-mandated 48-hour lead time—proved to be impossible. With the extension granted, the board president said he will try to hold a meeting early next week.

"In the worst-case scenario," Calabria said, "we may have to discuss the matter at our regular meeting, but my feeling is that we will need more time."

That gathering is scheduled for July 14 at 7 p.m. at the Board of Education building.

Calabria said he is unsure if discussions regarding the Seitz contract will be open or closed.

"It may have to be closed because personnel matters are involved, but I am having that checked," he said. "If we can make it public, we will do it."

The dispute revolves around how much Seitz will be paid to continue as superintendent of schools in Parsippany. Under the cap, he is limited to a maximum of $175,000 plus the possibility of a merit bonus. The November contract would pay him between $212,000 and $216,000 and up to $234,000 by 2015.

Much of the last school year was filled with back-and-forth arguing between dissenting school board members and those favoring the contract—and between the board and the governor's office. The BOE ended up filing suit against the state to defend that pact it made with Seitz.

After a State Appellate Court dismissed the Parsippany board's case last month, the county executive superintendent announced that the state would not recognize the contract and said that the last legal agreement expired June 30.

As of now, Seitz is working with no contract. The superintendent has not responded to Patch's requests for comment.