Union Township Board appoints Nicole Gratcofsky and accepts superintendent's resignation

The Union Township Board of Education voted Aug. 26 to appoint Nicole Gratcofsky to a vacant board seat through Dec. 31, 2024, and accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Diaz, effective Oct. 1, 2024.

President Cortney Dominianni called the meeting to order and, after an executive-session discussion of personnel matters, the board reconvened and passed the appointment resolution. The board secretary administered the Oath of Office to Gratcofsky following the vote; the motion carried.

Dr. Diaz announced his resignation in the personnel consent agenda, which the board approved as part of a larger package of personnel actions. The consent agenda included teacher and paraprofessional hires (for example, Madelyn Nenna as a Grade 6 ELA teacher and Jaclyn Rivas as a special-education teacher), substitute pay-rate changes, extracurricular appointments and several lateral salary moves for teachers. The board approved summer and interim assignments, and set new substitute and custodial rates effective Sept. 1 where noted.

Board members emphasized continuity and next steps for leadership transition. No timetable for a permanent superintendent search was specified in the minutes; the resignation was listed as effective Oct. 1, 2024. The meeting record indicates the personnel actions were approved by roll call vote as part of the consent agenda.

The board will serve the remainder of its regular calendar while the newly appointed member fills the vacant seat; the minutes do not specify calendar changes tied to the personnel actions.