Search For Superintendent Will Be Done By New School Board

The search for Hoboken's next superintendent will resume after the April 20 Board of Education elections and will be done by the new school board, said Board member Ruth McAllister Tuesday night. 

In the meantime, it's highly likely that Peter Carter will stay on as interim superintendent. 

"Obviously he's going to stay on," said Board President Rose Marie Markle, explaining that a search for an interim as well as a permanent superintendent at the same time would be highly unlikely.

The Hudson County Superintendent of Schools as well as the entire Hoboken School board needs to approve first. 

Still, the discussion about Dr. Frank Romano—the board's pick for superintendent who accepted and then rejected their offer—is still going strong. Markle, after an hour-long closed session, during which she had to use her gavel to silence her fellow board members, explained why she didn't share the information about Romano's withdrawal with the board and the public immediately. 

Markle said she received Romano's letter on Feb. 25, but after speaking to Vito Gagliardi, the board's attorney, decided to wait until the following Monday (March 1) to release the information. That same Monday was the petition deadline for the Board of Ed elections. The deadline for petitions was at 4 p.m.; Markle said in an earlier interview that she sent Romano's letter around 5 p.m.

The matter was raised during the public portion by Hoboken resident Lane Bajardi, who said he was a Kids First supporter, but confronted the board's president about why Markle didn't reveal the information on the 25th, immediately after receiving the letter. 

Markle said that up until Monday, March 1, she was under the impression that there was a chance that a deal with Romano could be struck. On that Monday, Markle said, "unfortunately, the letter stood."

Bajardi raised the issue twice, during the public portions of the meeting. 

Romano's withdrawal, Bajardi said, reflects a "poorly organized, poorly implemented and ultimately bungled attempt to select the new administrative leader of this district."

At the end of his statement, Bajardi asked the board four questions, demanding to know why Markle hadn't released the information sooner as well as who was aware of the information at what time. 

"Your five minutes are up," Markle answered. "Thanks for your political commentary."

Bajardi said he had always supported Kids First and is the father of a potential student in the district.

When Bajardi took the microphone once more, he addressed the council president again. Markle did not comment directly.   

The hour-long closed session was also about a resolution to combine the functions of Board Secretary and Business Administrator into one position. The board voted unanimously to accept the resolution. 

About half of the closed session was spent talking about the Board Secretary position, and the other half was about Romano, McAllister said.

"It's upsetting," McAllister said about the situation.