New superintendent is former Vernon educator

By Nathan Mayberg
VERNON — Art DiBenedetto is returning to the school he says he never wanted to leave after taking over as the district's interim superintendent.

His contract runs through June 30, replacing Charles Maranzano, who resigned during a controversy over practices inside the Special Services Dept.

DiBenedetto, who has 42 years of experience in schools, worked at the Vernon Township School District in the 1970s and 1980s as a high school Social Studies teacher, coordinator and assistant to the superintendent.

"I am extremely honored to be back in the district I love very much," DiBenedetto said by phone on Thursday.

DiBenedetto said he is already addressing issues in the Special Services Dept. that have led to host of grievances from employees in the department, an exodus of seven employees over the past year and a half, and concern from the parents of special services students.

He has met with staff in the department and those who work with the department's employees, as well as parents of special services students.

His philosophy on special services education is "communication, logic and compromise."

The parents of students he has spoken with have "concerns they haven't been communicated with" and that "no logic" was used in some decision making.

The interim superintendent doesn't believe the problems in the department are insurmountable.

"We're dealing with common sense issues," he said.

DiBenedetto started working at the high school when it opened, eventually being promoted to ssistant to the high school principal and assistant superintendent under George Iannacone.

In a letter to families posted on the district's website Monday morning, his first day on the job as interim superintendent, DiBenedetto led off with the words:

"Get up. Try to do something great. Go to bed!"

That's his advice to all and his "purpose in life," he wrote.

"I have returned to the place I never wanted to leave and pledge that I will serve with vigor in an honorable manner," DiBenedetto wrote in the letter.

This will be his 21st year as a superintendent. He previously served as a superintendent at the Long Hill, Stanhope and Netcong school districts,

Vernon Township School District Board of Education president David Zweier said "we're happy to have him on board."

After Maranzano announced abruptly last month that he would be retiring, the board reached out to the New Jersey School Board Association who listed DiBennedetto as an available interim superintendent.

"We're looking forward to him serving us over the next few months," Zweier said. "He is well respected by the board and staff members who knew him when he was an educator here."

As for the troubles in the Special Services Dept., Zweier said "I want people to know we are listening. We are discussing and we will do what's best for our children, our parents and our staff."

Zwier said the board is in the midst of its third round of interviewing permanent superintendent candidates.

For the time he will be here, DiBenedetto pledged on Thursday to "give the people of Vernon a significant effort to improve their school system."