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Caldwell-West names Dr. Lydia Furnari interim superintendent; outlines transition and outreach plan
Summary
Dr. Lydia Furnari, a longtime educator and experienced interim superintendent, was introduced as Caldwell-West Caldwell’s interim superintendent; she will begin July 1 and serve through June 30, 2026, and outlined priorities including listening tours, school visits, superintendent coffees and support for curricular goals.
The Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education introduced Dr. Lydia Furnari as the district’s interim superintendent and opened the floor for questions from parents and residents at Tuesday’s meeting.
Dr. Furnari, a lifelong educator with more than 30 years in public education who has served as a principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent in other districts, said she plans to spend her early weeks learning district priorities and meeting families and staff. "I make it my business to, in a very short period of time, get to know as much as I possibly can about the needs and the wants of the district that I will be working with," Dr. Furnari said.
The board said Dr. Furnari will begin July 1 and serve through June 30, 2026. "My job is really to prepare for the next long-term superintendent," she said, describing the interim role as one of stewardship: refining ongoing work and leaving the district in improved shape for a permanent hire.
Why it matters: The district is in a leadership transition and several near-term decisions — including capital planning and personnel actions — will occur while an interim superintendent is in place. Dr. Furnari said she will prioritize listening sessions with parents and staff, attend PTA/PTO meetings, and hold "superintendent coffee chats" to gather community input.
Questions from the public focused on how much change the interim superintendent would pursue before a permanent hire and how accessible she would be to parents. Resident Megan Thompson asked what Dr. Furnari hoped to accomplish in a short term; Furnari said she aims to honor prior work while identifying practical steps to advance district goals. "I like to hand over a situation that is in better shape than when I found it," she said.
Other topics raised included continuity of curriculum leadership and how the interim will work with existing directors. Board members emphasized the interim’s curriculum background and noted that the superintendent role will be expected to provide instructional leadership while the board searches for a permanent superintendent.
Logistics and next steps: The board said Dr. Furnari’s first day in the district will be July 1; she will conduct school visits and host public opportunities to meet community members during the summer and early fall. The board also reiterated that formal hiring for a permanent superintendent will follow the interim year and that monthly board meetings and public-notice procedures remain in effect.
The board read the meeting’s open-meetings notice at the start of the evening and said matters discussed in a recent executive session would be made public when confidentiality ends. Dr. Furnari took questions from residents at the meeting and stayed afterward for informal conversation.
