Leadership Shifts Top 2013 School News in Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes

2013 was a big year in school news for the Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, and Ramapo Indian Hills school districts. The year was most notably marked by shuffles in leadership and technology initiatives. Click the links below for more information on Patch's picks for some of the biggest school news to hit the community this year.

Ramapo Superintendent Shuffle

Lauren Schoen, who was hired as the Ramapo-Indian Hills Superintendent in 2009, resigned from the post this spring and moved on to be the Superintendent of Mahwah’s K-12 school district. It was later announced that Schoen would be receiving $167,500 a year in Mahwah.

Dr. Ernie Palestis was appointed the interim superintendent in May, and the board recently began its own search for a new permanent Superintendent.

Franklin Lakes Leadership Controversies

This spring, the Superintendent of the Franklin Lakes K-8 School District, Frank Romano, announced at a Board of Education meeting that he was resigning, effective this June. At the same meeting, the Board of Ed also controversially voted not to renew the contract of its Curriculum Director. The turmoil caused an educator initially hired to be the principal of the Woodside Avenue School to withdraw her acceptance of the job, saying that she was “not confident the commitment or loyalty,” of the Board of Ed.

Laptops for All

Ramapo Indian Hills planned out its 1-to-1 laptop initiative this year, detailing what a rollout of Apple laptops to every student in the district will mean, and what officials say the initiative will bring to the school. The rollout is expected to happen this January. The Franklin Lakes Board of Education recently announced it has been investigating the possible introduction of a 1-to-1 laptop initiative at the middle school, as well.

Principal Retirements  

2013 also saw leadership shuffles at individual schools in Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes. After 41 years in the position, Indian Hills Principal Al Evangelista retired this year. He was replaced by former Assistant Principal Joseph Collins.

Wyckoff’s Sicomac School Principal Debbie Kirsch also retired in 2013. She was replaced by Steve Raimo, the district’s former director of planning, research and evaluation.