Hoboken School Board Picks New Superintendent

The Hoboken Board of Education decided to offer the position of superintendent of Hoboken's public schools to Dr. Frank Romano, who is currently the assistant superintendent in the Fort Lee school district. This was announced during Tuesday evening's public meeting. 

Romano will earn a salary of $190,000 a year, with a 3.5 percent annual salary increase.  Romano is scheduled to start his job in Hoboken on July 1. 

Romano has the support of the majority of the board (seven in favor, two against), but not all members are behind the choice, citing his lack of experience as the biggest problem. 

"Why can't we take our time and do this right?" asked Vice President of the Board Carrie Gilliard, who said she didn't understand the rush in finding a new superintendent. "I have to disengage in what I witnessed in this process."

Gilliard said also that the decision was not made with the best interest of Hoboken's students in mind. The fact that Romano has never managed a school district—he has only been an assistant superintendent—is Gilliard's main concern. 

"This is an affront for me to witness," Gilliard said. 

Board member Maureen Sullivan also objected to the choice, although she said that the process of picking a new superintendent was as open and transparent as possible. 

"This is not a good idea," Sullivan said, adding that the board should never have considered a candidate without experience as a superintendent. 

"I am troubled by a $190,000 salary for someone who has no experience in this job," she said. "This was not my choice and I am not going along with it."

Other board members also expressed their concerns about the amount of the salary, and the increase of 3.5 percent annually. 

The other remaining candidate for the job was Gayle Griffin, assistant superintendent in Newark and former principal in Pittsburgh. Griffin and Romano answered questions from the public during a public forum last month.

Gilliard and Sullivan voted "No." The rest of the board approved the choice for the district's new superintendent. 

Board member Ruth McAllister said that Romano would be a "wonderful asset to this district."

The final negotiations were completed Tuesday night in a closed session shortly after the meeting started at 7 p.m. The closed session lasted roughly two hours, during which the board spoke on the phone with Romano as well as their attorney.

For James Farina, a long term member of the board, this process was all too familiar. 

"This is my sixth or seventh superintendent," Farina said. "I hope this one is the right one."