Thursday, June 6, 2013
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. The budget situation forced hard choices on the district, Maranzano said, and resulted in sharp criticism for himself and the school…
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Cynthia Randina leaving Secaucus school district; will begin July 1 and says focus will be on curriculum.
Cynthia Randina was hired Monday as the next Hopatcong superintendent of schools. She will replace Charles Maranzano, who is retiring in June after four years at the helm of the 2,000-student district. Randina, who is leaving the job as superintendent of the Secaucus school district, will begin her tenure in Hopatcong on July 1. “I’m honored,” she said. She sought the Hopatcong post after telling the Secaucus board she was seeking other opportunities after her year-long contract expired. Previously she served as assistant superintendent and curriculum director for Wayne Public Schools. She said she has a “passion” for curriculum improvements. Randina said she understands the desire of the community and school personnel to improve …
Sunday, April 14, 2013
"Little Shop of Horrors" makes its way to the Hopatcong High School stage.
The Hopatcong Board of Education is in session this week, holding its first meeting since approving the 2013-14 budget in March. That spending plan brought about a $65 tax hike for the average Hopatcong homeowner, with an overall expenditure of $35,339,000. While the district did receive more funds in state aid for the coming year than it did for the current year, it was still hard to overcome the massive decrease in funding year over year, Superintendent Charles Maranzano said. The meeting will be held at the Board of Education Administration building on Windsor Avenue at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 15, and is open to the public. Residents are encouraged to attend. It’s that time of year again, as the spring musical season continues …
Friday, March 1, 2013
District sees 2.2-percent increase, still reeling from previous year's large loss.
The Hopatcong School District received an increase in state aid this year, but not nearly enough to make up for the devastating blow it was dealt in funding for the 2012-13 school year. New Jersey distributed its largest funding of state aid to public schools in history Thursday, giving Hopatcong $11,349,365, a 2.2-percent increase ($247,304) over the previous year. But that won’t simply make up for the 6.4-percent loss the year prior. “We are still experiencing the effects of decreased overall funding and were planning for a shortfall in excess of $700,000 overall,” Superintendent Charles Maranzano said in an email to Patch. “The increase of state aid will not allow us to add any additional programs as we are still attempting to make up a…
Monday, February 18, 2013
In his blog, Superintendent Charles Maranzano discusses the need for security in America's schools.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Hopatcong schools seek replacement for the retiring Charles Maranzano.
A small group of residents vented their frustration with the state of the local school system to New Jersey School Boards Association staff Thursday at a meeting set up to explain the process of searching for a new superintendent. NJSBA field representatives Jane Kershner and Alfred Annunziata turned the comments into a list of characteristics and concerns that will be presented to the Hopatcong Board of Education as part of the search process. The state association is helping the local board facilitate its search process. Superintendent Charles Maranzano is retiring at the end of the school year in June. Kershner said the board hopes to fill the slot by that time, but Kershner said she told the board that if they are not satisfied they …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Superintendent says results of anti-bullying report 'pretty amazing.'
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Hopatcong recorded seven incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying from January to June, according to the biannual bullying released by the school recently. That number was down five incidents from the first half of the year as the district adjusted to the state's new anti-bullying law, which schools to crack down, record and follow up on incidents of harassment, bullying and intimidation—even if they occur off school grounds or on the Internet. The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights also forced districts to establish anti-bullying committees in each school. Click to the right to see the full report. The incidents were contained to the middle school (3) and high school (4), the report said. Borough elementary schools reported no …
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Should the high school's new leader come from within the district?
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Hopatcong Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said the district has picked its top candidate to replace Emil Binotto as the high school's prinicpal and that the Board of Education would vote on the matter Monday. Though Maranzano wouldn't disclose the name of the candidate, he said there were four finalists—two internal, two external. In which direction would you go? Would you want someone within the Hopatcong school system to take over at the high school? Or would you prefer new blood? Take our poll and tell us in the comments.
Monday, July 16, 2012
School board to vote on nominee to succeed Emil Binotto next Monday.
The Board of Education will vote whether to hire a new principal at Hopatcong High School next Monday, Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said. Maranzano declined to name the lead candidate, though he said a lengthy interview process led to a standout for a group of administrators charged with hiring Emil Binotto's successor. Binotto helmed the high school for 12 years before a shakeup in May led to a reshuffling of the district's principals. Binotto will serve as the middle school's principal in September. Board of Education President Cliff Lundin and member Frank Farruggia Jr. couldn't immediately be reached for comment Monday night. The administrative committee whittled down 38 candidates to four finalists—two internal and two …
Friday, July 6, 2012
School board voted to suspend high school teacher Hilary Gorzelnik, 31, a month ago amid accusations she might have had inappropriate contact with students.
A month after suspending Hopatcong High School physical education teacher Hilary Gorzelnik, the district is still investigating accusations the 31-year-old might have had inappropriate communications with students, Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said. "These things take time," Maranznao said. "Right now, it's in legal hands. I don't have anything to report if that's what you're asking. There's nothing at this point we can share now." The Board of Education suspended Gorzelink with pay at a special meeting at 7:30 a.m. June 6, but the investigation into the girls soccer coach and drivers' education instructor has been ongoing for about six weeks. Maranzano said he recommended the suspension to the school board. Maranzano has also said…
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Emily
4:05 pm on Monday, June 10, 2013
just cracked open the bottle of champagne and started throwing the confetti!!!!! Why would anyone give this individual accolades for destroying a school system. This is so wrong on so many levels. hopefully we will be able to sort this mess out he made and get back on track. more ›