Christina Diadetta, president of the Secaucus Board of Education, told residents Wednesday that Acting Superintendent Charlie Voorhees will step down from the superintendent role on Sept. 30 and return full time to his position as the district’s athletic director.

The board is continuing a search for a permanent superintendent and has scheduled a third round of interviews for Sept. 22; Diadetta said the field originally included two finalists but one withdrew, leaving a single candidate for that round. She also said the board intends to appoint a retired administrator as interim superintendent to serve until a permanent hire is made.

Why it matters: Residents urged the board for more transparency and community involvement in the process, saying the choice will shape district stability and the support available to nearly 3,000 students, including more than 300 who receive special-education services.

During the public-comment period, Anthony Grenier, a Secaucus resident, asked how the board will inform the community if it chooses designated stakeholder representatives for interviews. Dina Gervasio, another resident who brought her children to the meeting, asked who has interviewed candidates so far and urged the board to ensure parents, students and teachers are genuinely included. Dr. Melissa Dargan Fitzsimons, a Secaucus resident and teacher, directly asked, “Why is Charlie Voorhees not our next superintendent?”

Diadetta responded that Voorhees removed his name from consideration and that the Sept. 22 interview time may be adjusted because only one candidate remains. She also said the mayor will serve as the community member brought into the third-round interview process.

Residents also asked why the board approved a retainer agreement for special counsel during the meeting. Diadetta said the board has two remaining lawsuits titled John Doe v. Secaucus alleging abuse from decades ago and that the special counsel appointment is intended to handle those cases going forward. She said the legal work followed a change in state law that extended certain time limits for those claims.

Discussion vs. decision: The board confirmed the Sept. 22 third-round interview date (subject to time change), that one finalist remains after a withdrawal, that Voorhees will leave the superintendent role Sept. 30, and that an interim retired administrator will be hired. Those items are procedural statements by the board rather than new policy adoptions.

What comes next: The board said it will continue to update the community about the superintendent search and the process for the third-round interviews. Residents asked for clear information about candidate vetting, the voices consulted, and benchmarks that will hold a future superintendent accountable.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the public-comment portion and during board remarks; the board limited responses where personnel law or confidentiality restricted comment.