Franklin Lakes Dives Back into Search for Woodside Principal

School officials have once again convened a search for a principal for Woodside Avenue School in Franklin Lakes.

The process will get underway in earnest on March 5 when, according to District Superintendent Frank Romano, a committee of ten will meet and process eight candidates for interviews.   

"I have re-engaged the folks who participated in the various steps of Round One of the search, asking them to play the same roles in Round Two, since they have been so effective, so close to the work, and so deserving of the opportunity to play their parts in finding the right person for the job," Romano said. "With the exception of parent representative Mr. Michael Cardaci, who must attend to professional commitments, all will return."

Cardaci will be replaced by WAS parent and Franklin Lakes Education Foundation member Laura Metzler, Romano said.

"This second group of candidates comes to us with a rich variety of administrative and supervisory experiences," Romano said. "None are currently or have been previously employed by our district."

Following the committee's interviews, the superintendent hopes to pass two or three candidates to the Franklin Lakes Board of Education members Christine Christopoul, Jackie Veliky, Michael Ben-David and Craig Urciuoli.  

"If all goes well, I will consider the contributions that I received at the school and principal profile forums, the conversations during the administrative screenings, and the feedback from the representative committee of ten and board committee of four and then make my final recommendation to the Board of Education in early April," Romano said.

School officials received 70 application packets, interviewed eight candidates and narrowed those down to two finalists last year.

In January 2013, however, at the conclusion of that process, Romano reported that he had "identified one superstar who just happens to have less practical experience than we would like to see" and "in doing our due diligence, and given the fact that we have time, we must reopen the search."

"Our goal is not to find the best person in the heap, it's to find the right person for the job," Romano said at a school board meeting last year.

Woodside Avenue School Principal Dominick Rotante stepped down just weeks before the start of the 2012-13 school year in August, with retiring High Mountain Road Principal Helen Attenello agreeing to step in as interim principal at WAS until a replacement could be found.

Following the resignation the borough was abuzz with speculation and rumors about the circumstances of Rotante's departure, Romano implying that the separation was amicable.

Rotante filed suit against the school district four months later, claiming the end of his eight year career in Franklin Lakes was the result of a personal vendetta by Romano.

In February the Franklin Lakes Board of Education issued a release saying the suit had been dismissed.

"Dominick Rotante, a former Principal in the Franklin Lakes School District, who filed a lawsuit against the Board and the Superintendent, voluntarily dismissed his lawsuit without prejudice. The lawsuit sought to overturn the Separation Agreement, which he entered into on August 13, 2012, and to rescind his resignation. The Board and the Superintendent are pleased that this litigation is now concluded. The Board and the administration have set forth an ambitious agenda of educational priorities for this school year, which includes the search and selection of a new Principal for the Woodside Avenue School," 

Rotante's attorney Richard Meisner said the BOE's statement is incorrect.

"[The case is] not concluded," Meisner said. "[Romano's] release is false and deceptive."

Rotante has reapplied for the principal job despite a clause in his separation agreement stating that he would "never return to any employment or service with the Board as an employee or an independent contractor."

Meisner said Rotante withdrew his lawsuit on Feb. 13 but that he was entitled to refile it in the future, the lawyer told northjersey.com.

"If the board wants to interview him, they're free to interview him," Meisner told the website. "If we get a job interview, and they take it seriously, we're done [with the lawsuit]."

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