Ramapo-Indian Hills School Board Rescinds Contract For New Superintendent, Meeting Planned

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The last superintendent of the Ramapo-Indian Hills school district left in November after a contentious relationship with the new school board majority — and now the board has suddenly rescinded a contract for a new superintendent.

At a meeting Thursday, the Ramapo-Indian Hills Board of Education — which oversees two high schools drawing students from Wyckoff, Franklin Lakes, and Oakland — voted 5-0-3 to rescind a five-year contract previously offered to Ronald Tarchichi, reported the Record of Hackensack on Thursday.

The acting superintendent, Melissa Quackenbush, will remain in that role for at least another 60 days, the board decided.

The board has dealt with controversy over the last year. Among other things, the board overturned some of the previous superintendent's recommendations in Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying cases, and disagreed with him on counseling programs in the schools. READ MORE: Ramapo-Indian Hills Superintendent To Head To Another District

On Thursday, three board members abstained and read a statement saying they didn't have enough information to make a "sound decision" on the superintendent matter, according to the Record story. Some members of the public criticized the possibility of Tarchichi remaining a paid consultant in his old district in Camden County.

Meeting Scheduled For Monday

On Friday, the board scheduled a meeting for the night of Monday, July 1. A notice reads:

A Special Public Meeting of the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District Board of Education is scheduled at 7 P.M. on Monday, July 1, 2024 in the Board of Education Office Conference Room at 131 Yawpo Avenue, Oakland, New Jersey 07436. It is anticipated that the Board will immediately go into Closed Executive Session to discuss personnel. Action may be taken.

Read commentary from board critics here.