MONTVALE—The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education has decided to retain Interim Superintendent Dirk Phillips for an additional year, citing continuity, leadership performance, and fiscal considerations.
In a Dec. 16 message to the school community, board president Gini Varghese said the district had launched a superintendent search earlier this fall, but that the board now plans to keep Phillips in the interim role while it reassesses the district’s long-term leadership needs.
Varghese wrote that Phillips has demonstrated “excellent leadership and knowledge” in the months he has served as interim superintendent, describing the decision as “data-driven” and based on “real observable evidence” of his capability. She also said Phillips has been open to mentoring and supporting new board members and administrators—an area she described as a “vital need” for the district.
The board president added that extending Phillips’ contract would provide stability by avoiding a leadership transition in the near term, while also saving “time, money, and resources” amid “impending budget constraints and the climate of rising costs.”
Varghese said the district appreciates the candidates who applied in the superintendent search, and that keeping Phillips as interim will give the district more time and information to hire “the most appropriate superintendent” for a permanent appointment next year.
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District serves students from Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale, and Woodcliff Lake, and operates Pascack Valley High School and Pascack Hills High School
December scheduled closures
While we have you, note these district calendar items:
- Tuesday, Dec. 23 is a scheduled early dismissal for students and staff.
- District offices and schools end at noon.
- High school bus transportation departs at 12:03 p.m.
- Park Academy School ends at 12:20 p.m.
- All offices and all schools will be closed from Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.
- The district will reopen Monday, Jan. 5.