BOE Votes Down Resolution To Keep Theater Director, Gifted Program Coordinator

The Board of Education voted down a resolution Wednesday to reverse superintendent Dr. Mark Toback's decision not to renew contracts and give tenure to two of the district's most popular teachers.

Theater Director Paula Ohaus and Cheng-yen Hillenbrand, coordinator of the district's Gifted and Talented Program, will not be returning to Hoboken this September due to "performance issues," Toback said, during a school board meeting that continued into the early morning hours Wednesday. 

The vote culminated a series of emotional and divisive Board of Education meetings in which parents, current students and Hoboken High School alumni appeared in large numbers to help the educators fight for their positions.

The five board members who voted against the resolution - Rose Marie Markle, Ruth McAllister, Theresa Minutillo, Leon Gold and Irene Sobolov - said they did so to show support for the superintendent who began his work with the district in March.

"I have to back him and have faith he has reasons for the decisions he has made," said McAllister. "I, as a board member, feel I have to support the superintendent in the decision he's making."

Maureen Sullivan voted in favor of keeping Ohaus and Hillenbrand on in the district, citing her children's own positive experience with the educators.

"I think it's the height of craziness to back up administrators... over our children," she said as she cast the final vote. "These teachers have the right to be here. This is a black day in Hoboken school history."

The resolution was introduced by Carmelo Garcia and backed by Frances Rhodes-Kearns and Peter Biancamano.

Ohaus and Hillenbrand received their nonrenewal notices from the superintendent in mid-May, but they did not go down without a fight.

Following the board's regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday evening, the teachers opted to hold what is known as a "Donaldson Hearing," a procedure that allows non-tenured public school employees not recommended for rehire the right to present additional information and testimony. The goal of the hearing is to convince the board to approve a teacher's employment despite the absence of superintendent support.

Ohaus and Hillenbrand took their allotted 30 minutes to refute the claims made against them by the superintendent.

Hillenbrand began the district's program for gifted and talented students five years ago and initated Hoboken's participation in the Johns Hopkins University Program. Despite years of excellent evaluations, she said was told she did not meet the expectations of the district.

"Suddenly... I had changed from an excellent educator to being one who needed seven areas of improvement," she said, recalling her most recent evaluation by Connors School principal Laurina Pereira. It was the first time Pereira had been assigned to critique her work.

Toback declined to comment during the public hearing, but in an interview following the vote, he explained his reasons for letting Hillenbrand go.

"What is disturbing to me is the fact that not during any point in the discussion we had tonight was there any mention that the program does not comply with the state requirements," he said.

Toback added that while Hillenbrand did have certifications to teach Kindergarten through fifth grade, he did not have documentation that she had completed her certification to teach through eighth grade at the time his decision was made.

The case of the high school theater director has been highly publicized since April when Ohaus resigned, alleging a hostile work environment under former superintenent Peter Carter. She agreed to return to the district, but received criticism from board members for driving students in her car and hosting sleepovers at her home.

While defending her 14-year role in building up the award-winning program, Ohaus admitted to having allowed some students who were not eligible to participate in her plays.

"I never turn a kid away from my shows unless of course they are failing exams and I have made a mistake in that this year," she said, noting the high number of students she is responsible for.

"My year involves 340 children. How many teachers in Hoboken have 340 children under their care?"

More than 30 people signed up to speak on behalf of the teachers during the public portion of the hearing. The meeting ended around 2 a.m. 

Many of those who spoke expressed concern about the fate of the programs.

Hoboken parent Nathan Brinkman said the existence of Hillenbrand's gifted program is a deciding factor for district parents who are wondering whether or not to stay in Hoboken.

"Make no mistake," said Brinkman. "Her forced dismissal would only accelerate the exodus of students from this district."

"Who do you think is going to lead a program like this?" Ohaus asked. "Who do you think you're going to replace me with?"

Toback said the administration is already taking steps to continue the gifted and theater programs without their current leaders.

"We have posted for a Gifted and Talented coordinator," he said. "We're still looking at different options for how to assign people to that."

As for the theater program, Toback said the position will most likely go to a qualified and interested teacher at the school who will be paid a stipend for the extra-curricular work.

"People have already expressed interest," he said.

 When the vote came down against them, both Ohaus and Hillenbrand were disappointed, but not surprised.

"I'm thrilled with the support and what was said, but saddened by the politics," Ohaus said.

"I just hope the students will do well," said Hillenbrand. "I haven't spent so many years not to wish them well."