Maranzano's Years in Hopatcong 'Have Been Memorable'

Maranzano ended his tenure at Hopatcong on June 30, after a 40-year career in education,  the last four at the helm of Hopatcong’s 2,000-student district. He is being replaced by Cynthia Radina, who took over the job Monday.

Maranzano took over a school district that had difficulty getting voter approval for budgets for two decades, and the year he 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.

“In a 40-year career, these years have been memorable,” Maranzano said.

He thanked the board and the public for their support.

Board president Clifford Lundin said Maranzano provided calm, strong leadership during a difficult time in the school district.

In the past four years, Lundin said, besides the continuing budget issues, Maranzano implemented a new state-sponsored  anti-bullying program, a new teacher evaluation system and reorganized the schools and the district curriculum.

He was also in office when the high school was used last fall as an emergency shelter for residents displaced by Superstorm Sandy.

Before the Borough Council in May, Maranzano cited several accomplishments, including 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.