Schools

School Official Eyes State Takeover as Board Fails to Appoint Superintendent

Leaderless with less than two months before the start of the 2013-14 school year, the Fort Lee Board of Education is up against a wall.

The district, now without a superintendent for approximately three weeks, failed to hire a replacement at a special Monday meeting and could face state or county intervention, according to one published report.

An official speaking anonymously to local media earlier this week had said trustees were hopeful a replacement could be named at the Monday meeting.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

That did not happen, however, and attendees at the meeting pressed the board on the district’s future.

School board attorney Dennis McKeever responded that the state or county could intervene and appoint a superintendent, but while the district wanted no part of a “state takeover,” he believed outside intervention is imminent, according to NorthJersey.com.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The timeline for such remedial action is unclear, McKeever said.

Assistant Superintendent Sharon Amato was selected to temporarily ascend to the superintendent position after the school board accepted the resignation of Steven Engravalle in March.

Her contract as interim super expired on June 30, however, and since then there's been an impasse on who will be the district's next leader.

The district has a meeting scheduled—its third in as many weeks— for 8 p.m. on Monday, July 29, at Fort Lee High School.


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