Former Secaucus Superintendent Alfonso Hired To Run Belleville Schools

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Erick Alfonso, the former superintendent of Secaucus schools, was just hired as the new superintendent of the Belleville school district.

Alfonso's appointment was confirmed Monday night with a majority vote by the Belleville school board; two members abstained. He starts July 1 and his new salary is unknown; Belleville schools have not posted his salary online nor did the district immediately respond when asked what his salary will be. Belleville paid its most recent permanent superintendent $191,584 per year.

Alfonso was the Secaucus superintendent for just eight months. The Secaucus Board of Education put Alfonso on a paid leave last March, but never publicly said why. Because the board was unable to legally void Alfonso's three-year contract, the school district paid Alfonso a total of $183,977 for more than a year of not working, from March 20, 2024 through April 21, 2025.

One Belleville resident, Michael Sheldon, stood up Monday night and spoke against the hiring of Alfonso. The resident said he had done "extensive research" on Alfonso's background and has "some very serious reservations."

"I'm sure you're all aware this individual was superintendent in Secaucus, just eight miles away, so so much for the nationwide search," said Sheldon, who added that he thinks Alfonso has limited experience and ran a much smaller school district: Secaucus only has about 2,000 students, Belleville has 5,500.

But many Belleville school board trustees countered they were "proud" and "excited" to hire Alfonso.

"We had 35 candidates and got it whittled down to the top three. It was not easy. I'm excited to vote for (the hiring of Aflonso)," said Board member Luis Muniz.

"Google works both ways. These questions were asked. A lot of your concerns as a community were the same concerns we had as a board. And we asked those questions," he said, referring to the drama that occurred in Secaucus.

"I too made phone calls to find out about Dr. Alfonso and all I got were positive responses," said trustee Esteban Leon. "If you want to look up articles and what happened in a certain district, maybe dig a little deeper and see what happened in that district over six or seven years," likely making a reference to the fact that the Secaucus school board has abruptly fired multiple superintendents and popular high school principal "Dr. Bob" in recent years.

"I feel comfortable in our decision tonight, and my support for Dr. Alfonso," he said.

For the past several years, Belleville school district has been under a state monitor, but is currently seeking to get control back for themselves. The state monitor went out of his way to praise Alfonso Monday night:

"The current candidate rose to the top," he said of Alfonso. "He came across as better for the things that Belleville needs, more than some of the other more experienced superintendents. He hit all the right items. The Board recognizes his abilities. This board has done a wonderful job with the search, and this current candidate rose to the top completely, completely. I just thought the public should hear that."

BOE member Michael Derro said he spoke to many of Alfonso's colleagues.

"All of them universally supported him," said Derro. "The message was his unwavering support for the children. He is a real champion for the underdog, is what I heard relayed from several testimonials, which really speaks to his character. I know the court of general opinion is very divided. However, if Alfonso is allowed to become successful as superintendent, then ultimately our whole district becomes more successful under his leadership."

Prior: Secaucus Paid Superintendent $183,977 For Year Of Not Working (Feb. 2025)

Watch the Monday night Belleville BOE meeting where they hired Alfonso. Discussion about him begins at 1:02: