New Hoboken Superintendent Withdraws Candidacy

Dr. Frank Romano, who was picked to be Hoboken's next superintendent of schools during the Feb. 9 Board of Education meeting, has withdrawn his candidacy, Board President Rose Marie Markle confirmed Monday night. 

Markle said Romano and the Board could not agree on some terms in the contract ("there were some sticking points," Markle said). One of those sticking points was the issue of contract renewal, Markle said in a phone interview.

Although Markle said she offered to go back to the Board and renegotiate the terms, "(Romano) decided to walk away and withdraw."

During the Feb. 9 meeting, board members Carrie Gilliard and Maureen Sullivan voted against hiring Romano, arguing that he did not have enough experience for the job. 

"I never felt he was a good fit for Hoboken," Gilliard said in a phone interview Monday night. "I am very pleased it happened at an early stage."

Gilliard added that Romano's withdrawal will be beneficial to Hoboken taxpayers and Hoboken's public school students. 

"I didn't agree with his contract," she said. Gilliard was not involved in the contract negotiations.

After Romano was picked on Feb. 9, Gilliard wrote a letter to the Hoboken Reporter, disassociating herself from "Kids First," the coalition she belonged to for three years. 

The matter caused controversy and a lot was written about it on various Hoboken blogs. The "climate" that was created, Markle said, may have added to Romano's decision to withdraw.

Romano did not answer multiple calls to his cell phone on Monday night. 

The Board members are currently in possession of a letter—which is dated Feb. 25—which was written by Romano. Markle sent the letter to all the members of the Board on Monday afternoon around 5 p.m.  

One board member, who asked to remain anonymous, read parts of the letter over the phone to Patch on Monday night.

"It is with sadness and disappointment that I withdraw my candidacy from the Hoboken Public Schools superintendent search," the board member said the letter read. "I can no longer consider this position because we have not been able to reach an agreement on terms of employment, and the process at this point leaves me feeling less than comfortable."

Romano was supposed to start the job on July 1, and earn a salary of $190,000 a year, with a 3.5 percent annual salary increase. Romano is currently the assistant superintendent in the Fort Lee school district. 

A new search for superintendent of schools will have to begin, but that will most likely not happen until after the April 20 Board of Education elections, Markle said. 

Markle said also that she had spoken to interim superintendent Peter Carter. It's unclear if Carter will stay on until after July 1, but Markle said he told her that he's available after that time. The whole board will have to agree on this and it will most likely be discussed in an executive session during the March 9 meeting, Markle said. 

Romano's e-mail came as a surprise, Markle said.

"I still wish that he was coming," she said. "It's unfortunate."