Vernon hires interim superintendent

By Nathan Mayberg
VERNON — The Vernon Township Board of Education has appointed Arthur DiBenedetto as its interim superintendent.

DiBenedetto will replace Charles Maranzano, who resigned amid a controversy over the district's special services department.

DiBenedetto was appointed by the Board of Education on Feb. 18 at a rate of $644 a day through June 30. He will take office on Monday.

DiBenedetto has previously served as superintendent for the Long Hill, Stanhope and Netcong school districts, and will enter a school district climate rocked by a half dozen grievances filed by employees in the special services department. They allege, among other things, a hostile work environment fostered by the district's special services director Carolyn Marano.

Seven members of the department have left the school over the past year and a half.

John Ropars, a union representative for school district employees with the New Jersey Education Association, knows DiBenedetto from when he superintendent at Stanhope and they negotiated contracts.

"We worked well together," Ropars said. "I am encouraged with what I have heard at this point. He seems to have a good relationship with the staff and the parents from what I've heard."