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Secaucus board extends acting superintendent, votes to post permanent role amid resident questions on transparency
Summary
The Secaucus Board of Education extended Acting Superintendent Charlie Voorhees’ appointment for 90 days and voted to post the permanent superintendent position internally and externally. Residents asked how the district will run the search, whether a search committee or firm will be used, and raised concerns about special-education transparency.
The Secaucus Board of Education voted to extend Acting Superintendent Charlie Voorhees’ appointment for a 90-day period through Sept. 30, 2025 — subject to approval by the county superintendent — and approved posting the permanent superintendent position both internally and on the district website.
Board members said they will not engage a search firm at this time and will evaluate whether one is needed after reviewing applicants from the internal and external postings. The board’s action also included language that the extension requires the approval of the executive county superintendent.
The vote came after residents asked for clarity on how the district will run the search and whether the board will form a search committee. Resident Anthony Granieri asked where the posting would be advertised, whether a search committee would be formed, how committee members would be chosen, whether the board would hire a search firm such as the New Jersey School Boards Association to assist, and whether finalist interviews would be open to the public for feedback.
Board leaders responded that the district must post the vacancy under the district’s collective negotiations agreement and that the current alternative — appointing an interim superintendent — would be limited to a retired administrator under applicable rules. The board’s immediate decision was to post the permanent vacancy internally and externally and to reappoint Voorhees in 90-day increments while the posting runs.
During public comment, members of the Special Education Parent Advisory Group (CPAG) and other parents asked for greater transparency. Questions raised included whether CPAG members had been included on a “visions” committee, how the April 30 special-budget meeting had been noticed to the public, and why the recently approved 2025–26 budget did not show a separate line item for special-education funding. The board said it would follow up by email with answers to those questions and consult with district staff.
Two board members recused themselves from several personnel-related votes. Board member Lance Bartletta announced recusals from resolutions R1.03 through R1.07 and R1.23–R1.24; a second board member also announced recusals from the same resolutions. The board announced that the motion to extend Voorhees and to post for a superintendent passed.
The board also clarified procedural limits: an interim superintendent appointment would be restricted to a retired administrator and the county superintendent must approve extensions of an acting superintendent who does not hold a standard superintendent certificate. The posting requirement was tied to the district’s negotiated contract obligations, the board said.
Board President Kelly D'Adetta said the board would provide answers to resident questions after consulting with the business administrator and staff. The board indicated it may reassess whether to retain an outside search firm depending on the pool of applicants from the internal and external posting.
The action resumes a search process while maintaining continuity of leadership through short-term extensions and county-level review.
