State Education Commissioner Rules Against Seitz Lawsuit

The New Jersey State Education Commissioner ruled against former Parsippany-Troy Hills Superintendent Dr. Leroy Seitz, last week, reaffirming an administrative law judge's decision that Seitz must pay the district $17,597.

The decision by Assistant Commissioner Evo Popoff came on July 15, three years after the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education voided Seitz's contract which raised his pay from $212,000 to $216,000 and to $234,000 by 2015.

The ruling came from Popoff because State Education Commissioner Chris Cerf was on vacation, and Popoff was serving as acting commissioner, according to njspotlight.

The Christie administration fought the initial agreement because the salary figures violated the cap, which would allow a maximum of $175,000 (plus a potential merit bonus) for any superintendent managing a district the size of Parsippany's. Christie, repeatedly denounced Seitz as a "poster boy for greed and arrogance.”

The executive county superintendent ultimately refused to approve Parsippany's 2011-12 school budget until the board changed the contract, which prompted the Board to void the contract.

Seitz took legal action against the BOE, the state Department of Education and former County Executive Superintendent Kathleen Serafino over the board's decision.

Seitz ultimately resigned from his position in March of 2013.

Judge J. Howard Solomon in Newark ruled that the Parsippany Board of Education is entitled to recoup the $17,597 in June which was upheld by Popoff last week.