Politics & Government
Maranzano Thanks Hopatcong for Cooperation
Retiring schools' chief leaves at end of the month, expresses gratitude to governing body.
With his retirement from the Hopatcong School District imminent, Superintendent Charles Maranzano thanked the Borough Council Wednesday for its commitment to working with the school district on several key issues.
Maranzano will leave the school district July 1 after four years. His replacement Cynthia Randina was hired this month.
He took over a school district that had difficulty getting voter approval for budgets for two decades, and when that year arrived, state aid for school was cut drastically. In 2013, he said, Hopatcong, like 447 other schools across the state, has not yet had its aid fully restored.
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The budget situation forced hard choices on the district, Maranzano said, and resulted in sharp criticism for himself and the school board.
In response, he said, the administration and board tackled the issues head-on.
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“It’s about what can be accomplished,” he said.
Among the accomplishments, Maranzano cited the establishment of a collaborative leadership model for the administration, and many classroom visits he made to see district work up close.
The district revised its K to 12 curriculum and added new textbooks; brought back a focus on arts education with band and visual arts at the high school; brought in a new principal who was instrumental in staff reassignments that supported the curriculum changes resulting in eight new Advanced Placement courses at the high school; and worked with the Warriors recreational sports organization to upgrade and share facilities.
Further, the school district added a solar power installation that will save the district millions over its 15-year contract; introduced a new alert system for internal and external communications; and increased cooperation with local, county and state agencies, he said.
Mayor Sylvia Petillo conveyed the council’s thanks for his efforts. She said she understood the financial pressures that began in 2009 because they hit the borough as well.
She thanked him for making the high school available as an emergency shelter during Hurricane Sandy, noting the friendliness and professionalism of the school staff.
“We see the differences you made in a lot of ways,” she said.
