BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY —— Tenafly Assistant Superintendent of Schools Barbara Simitian Laudicina was appointed as acting superintendent by school trustees in a special meeting held on Sunday, Feb. 4, where they also accepted the resignation of the interim superintendent.
The 10-minute special meeting was held at 2 p.m. at board offices on Sunday afternoon – Super Bowl Sunday – because 48 hours notice is needed for public meetings, and “so we could hit the ground running on Monday morning,” said board president Eileen Pleva.
Two resolutions were both approved by 8-0 votes, with trustee Jocelyn Schwartz absent. School trustees applauded when Laudicina was officially appointed.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey Gordon, who served only six months of an 11-month interim appointment, was not present.
The resolution granting Gordon a paid leave of absence through April 6, and resignation effective April 6, provided no details and trustees did not speak publicly about Gordon.
‘Looking forward’
“I just want to say I’m looking forward to working with this board and excited about the possibilities over the next several months,” said Laudicina. “We have some hard work to do and I think we’re all prepared to do it,” she said.
“I know that I have a great team in central office and our buildings, in our classrooms that are ready to go at it and do our best for our students. It’s what we do and what we’ll continue to do,” she said.
Pleva said trustees had “tremendous confidence” in Laudicina. “On behalf of all the board we’re all excited to continue working with you,” she said.
Laudicina has been assistant superintendent of schools since 2010, and for five years served as principal of Tenafly’s Walter Stillman School. Previously, she served as a principal in Wood-Ridge, teacher and technology resource specialist in Fair Lawn, and a teacher with Bergen County Special Services.
“May I be the first one to address you as ‘Madam Acting Superintendent” said trustee Sam Bruno, joking with Laudicina.
Gordon’s resignation
“He’s taking a leave of absence and at the end of the leave he decided to resign and he’s pursuing other professional opportunities,” said Pleva. “I really can’t speak for why,” she added.
Pleva said that an interim superintendent, as Gordon was, is usually a retired individual and an acting superintendent is a “temporary” appointment. State law allows a district to appoint an interim superintendent for two years or less. Gordon’s interim contract ran from Aug. 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018.
Gordon was granted a leave of absence with pay from Feb. 5, 2018, through April 6, 2018, and resigns effective April 6.
Prior to Tenafly, Gordon served as two-year interim superintendent at Northern Valley Regional High School District and previously worked as a high school principal in New Providence, and as superintendent.
He also served a decade in Port Washington, N.Y., and as interim superintendent for the Alpine school district.
Efforts to contact Gordon for comment were not successful.
Laudicina’s appointment as acting superintendent is effective Feb. 5 through June 30, 2018.
Superintendent search?
Reached Feb. 5, Pleva said the board needs to soon make “a formal determination” to decide on a possible search firm for a permanent superintendent.
“We’ve been discussing it for quite some time,” she said referring to a search firm.
Pleva said budget issues take immediate priority over such a decision, which will occur later.
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Meeting public notice
Northern Valley Press received email notice of the special meeting Sunday near mid-day Friday, Feb. 2. The notice said the “terms and conditions” of the interim superintendent and assistant superintendent’s contracts would be discussed.
Meeting notices were sent to area newspapers and posted in the Tenafly Public Library, Tenafly Borough Hall, each Tenafly public school, central office and the district website.
The special meeting notice was listed on the website after clicking on Board of Education and listed below Agenda/Minutes as “Posting Notice.” It was not listed under “Upcoming Events” on the BOE home page.
Screen Shots courtesy Tenafly High School Lalor Library Media Center