The Secaucus Board of Education has thrown its support behind Schools Superintendent Cynthia Randina, just weeks after the local teachers’ union took a vote of no confidence in her leadership and recent decisions.
At its July 22 meeting, the nine-member board passed a resolution expressing “complete and unequivocal confidence in and satisfaction with the superintendent’s performance.”
The resolution is the latest development in the ongoing clash between the schools superintendent and the Secaucus Education Association (SEA), the teachers’ union.
For the past year Randina has been at war with the SEA, which has opposed her management style, hiring decisions, and spending priorities within the school district. Last summer, the SEA criticized the timing of her decision to reassign three of the school district’s four principals.
As the dispute has continued, Board of Education trustees have largely stayed out of fray. However, last month, a majority of SEA members voted that it had “no confidence” in Randina’s job performance. After the vote, the union called on the trustees to address the teachers’ concerns.
“The board wishes to express its disappointment in the outcome of the association’s vote.” – Secaucus Board of Education
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‘Significant accomplishments’
In its July 22 resolution, drafted in response to the SEA, the board stated that it “strongly disagrees with the sentiments implicated by this vote, and wishes to publicly recognize the superintendent’s efforts and significant accomplishments throughout the 2009-2010 school year.”
The resolution passed by a vote of 7-1. Michael Makarski was the only board member to vote against the resolution, saying that the conflict should be handled differently. The ninth trustee, Sal Manente, did not attend the meeting and did not vote.
Most board members interviewed last week said the time had come for them to take a public position on Randina.
“I think we needed to respond to their action,” said School Board Trustee Mary Ann Weiner, who was elected in April. “We certainly acknowledge [the teachers’] feelings. That’s not an issue. But at this time, we had to take a stand on where we are at the present time. The bottom line is our responsibility to the students and taxpayers. I think this puts us all on notice that we’re all accountable.”
For most board members, the resolution was the first time they had stepped out of their role as a passive governing body.
“Randina is blamed for something she should never had been blamed for,” said Board Trustee Dora Marra. “My problem is this: If they [the teachers] knew what we know, they’d understand why certain decisions get made. But a lot of it is confidential and [has to do with] personnel issues, and we can’t talk about it.”
For example, Marra said the union wanted certain teachers hired or promoted to positions that were advertised. But some of these job applicants lacked the required experience or credentials, or wanted higher salaries than other applicants.
“You can’t get rid of someone just because there are people who don’t like her. What kind of message does that sent to our students?” – Dora Marra
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Randina was hired in 2008 to replace former Schools Superintendent Constantino “Gus” Scerbo, who retired after 24 years with the district. She is completing the second year of a five-year contract.
‘Act accordingly’
Board of Trustee members were officially notified of the SEA vote in individually-addressed certified letters dated July 7, according to one such letter obtained by the Reporter. The SEA’s July letter states, “The membership feels that the superintendent and her administration lacks [sic] the leadership skills needed to continue the level of educational excellence the students of Secaucus deserve. Lack of communication, questionable hiring practices, and a feeling of intimidation has [sic] had a negative impact on the educational infrastructure of the entire district.”
The letters go on to ask the trustees to “take our concerns seriously and…act accordingly.”
The letters do not specify what action the union wants trustees to take, but it is widely believed the union would like Randina to be replaced. But the district would be in breach of Randina’s five-year contract if she were terminated before it expires.
The SEA no confidence vote passed 176-27, according to the letters sent to Board of Education trustees. The union has about 225 members.
In its own vote on Randina, the trustees stated, “The board wishes to express its disappointment in the outcome of the association’s vote.”
So far the union has not publicly responded to the board’s resolution supporting Randina. SEA President Robert Anderson was on vacation throughout the month of July and was not available for comment last week.
Makarski: ‘A better path’
Michael Makarski, the only board trustee who voted against the board’s resolution, said last week the matter could have been handled differently.
“I was against the resolution. Not that I don’t support the superintendent. But I think us passing a resolution sets a dangerous precedent,” Makarski said. “I don’t think it will help us get past our issues with the union. Personally, I think it made the situation a little worse. There is a better path that we could have taken.”
Randina recently created a “Communication Committee” that includes teachers and members of the faculty. The committee was set up to improve the lines of communication between the superintendent and the faculty.
Makarski said this committee would have been the best channel for the union’s concerns to be aired and for the school administration to share its positions on hiring, spending, and other staffing matters.
“That path is still open to us,” he added. “But it was open to us before we passed the resolution, which is why I was against it.”
Weiner said there are currently no board members on the Communication Committee, but she would like to see some added to the group in the future.
E-mail E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.