Bergen County Superintendent Resigns After Transfer, Camera Scandal

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ — One of the highest paid superintendents in the state has submitted her resignation after the state discovered she transferred her daughter to a different office without the Board of Education signing off on the move and covered security cameras so her daughter would not be filmed working, according to a report.

Dawn Fidanza submitted her resignation as superintendent of the South Bergen Jointure Commission effective Dec. 31, commission Board of Education President Gregorio Maceri confirmed. She will be placed on a leave of absence effective Nov. 1.

Fidanza and commission Business Administrator Susan Cucciniello could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Maceri said that Fidanza will be "primarily" working in another location in the district while the board hires an interim superintendent.

Information from the state Department of Education released last year showed that Fidanza was the 10th highest paid superintendent in the state with a salary of $222,941.

A report by the state Department of Education's Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance found that Fidanza transferred her daughter Julia Fidanza from the district's transportation office to the business office without the board's approval.

The report also states that the superintendent spoke to both of her daughter's supervisors and "attempted to influence the evaluations" of her daughter."

Superintendent Fidanza covered security camera lenses where her daughter worked so that coworkers would not see Julia Fidanza come and go, according to the report.

The elder Fidanza admitted using "profane language" in the presence of district employees.

The South Bergen Jointure Commission provides transportation, personnel and special education classes to local school districts. Fourteen officials from various nearby school districts oversee it and its 276 students.

Dawn Fidanza said in a message on the district's website that, "We here at the SBJC strive to help every child reach his or her full potential, and help them develop into socially productive adults who will be a positive influence on society."

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Photo: Superintendent Dawn Fidanza/Background image via Shutterstock