Schools

Hoboken Board of Education Hires New Superintendent

Dr. Mark Toback's contract was approved unanimously by the school board on Tuesday.

The Hoboken Board of Education unanimously approved the contract for its new superintendent of schools during its meeting on Tuesday night. 

Dr. Mark Toback will be Hoboken's superintendent for the coming four years, and will be paid an annual salary of $155,000 a year. Toback will also receive a $2,500 stipend because the district involves a high school.

In an e-mail to the board's attorney Vito Gagliardi, Toback called the approval of the contract "fantastic news." Toback also wrote that he will give notice at the Sussex County Vocational School District, where he serves as the superintendent. 

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The Board also approved the appointment of Dr. Walter Rusak as interim superintendent until Feb. 28, for a rate of $125 a day. Current Acting Superintendent Peter Carter is leaving the district on Jan. 31.

All board members were relieved to end the search for the new superintendent which has dragged on for about a year and a half. 

Find out what's happening in Hobokenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I feel like it’s all I’ve done on this board is look for a new superintendent," Board member Ruth McAllister said. 

Approving the contract comes after weeks of back-and-forth with the state department of education. Initially, the school board wanted to offer Toback $175,000. That contract—which was given to the state for approval on Nov. 19, 2010—wasn't approved, because it exceeded Gov. Chris Christie's proposed cap for superintendents' salaries. 

The cap is technically not law yet, but will be starting Feb. 7.

"We’re being held to standards that don’t currently exist," said Board Member Theresa Minutillo.

Board member Maureen Sullivan said she supported the cap.

But even after the school board was forced to change its offer, Toback still wanted to come to Hoboken. 

"This proves that Dr. toback is not in it for the money," McAllister said. 


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