Secaucus Superintendent Placed On Paid Leave

SECAUCUS, NJ — The superintendent of the Secaucus school district was just placed on paid leave.

The decision to suspend school superintendent Erick Alfonso was made by all the elected Board of Education members present Wednesday at their monthly meeting.

For unknown reasons, Alfonso was suspended with pay, his $180,000 yearly salary.

All the Board would say at the very end of their meeting was that an unnamed employee would be suspended, with pay, while they were investigated by the board.

As of midday Friday, the school district has yet to send any emails to parents letting them know that Alfonso, the head of the district, has been placed on leave.

"The superintendent is currently on a leave of absence," BOE president Kelli D'Addetta told Patch. "As with all personnel matters, we must respect the privacy rights held by our employees and therefore I will not be making any further comment. During the superintendent’s absence, the Director of Curriculum is available to respond to any issues or concerns that arise in the district."

Alfonso did not return repeated calls and texts from this reporter.

Mayor Mike Gonnelli said he was not at liberty to discuss any details of the suspension or why it occurred. However, the mayor had some very strong words for the Board of Education members:

"I am very disappointed in the Board of Education members. And not just this Board, but the previous Boards before them. They and all the previous Board just aren't getting it right," he said. "This is the sixth superintendent Secaucus has had in the past seven years. And some of them we actually had to pay them when they leave. That means taxpayer dollars. This is very upsetting to me."

He is referring to separations the district had with Robert Berckes, "Dr. Bob," former Secaucus High School principal who was paid his $124,000 salary for an entire year — while he was not working — after a falling-out he had with the Board of Education.

The superintendent before Alfonso, Jennifer Montesano, also abruptly quit under mysterious circumstances that were never made public.

"They and previous Boards are just not getting this right," fumed Mayor Gonnelli on Friday. "This is very embarrassing for the town."

Secaucus Principal Paid Salary For Entire Year, Will Then Resign (2019)

Alfonso was in the midst of leading the Secaucus school district through some monumental changes, including redistricting, PreK expansion and possibly adding a new wing to Clarendon Elementary.

Watch Wednesday night's meeting to the very end, the last minute: