Nowicki rebuts charges

made by principals’ assoc.

BY KATHY BARATTA

Staff Writer

HOWELL — Former Board of Edu-cation member Marcie Nowicki was the subject of a recent complaint sent to school district officials by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisor’s Association (NJPSA).

Nowicki was a member of the board for 14 years until she abruptly resigned on Feb. 17. She reconsidered her action and is running to win the remaining year of the term she previously held. The school election is scheduled for April 20.

Nowicki said she resigned in part due to a confrontation she had with a school principal over a personnel matter that was also the subject of a criminal investigation.

In speaking about the matter with the Tri-Town News following the newspaper’s receipt of a copy of the NJPSA letter, Nowicki would only further clarify the matter by saying she had intervened only by counseling a parent on the correct procedure for addressing his concerns to the board in order to avoid civil liability on the part of both the parent, whom she knew personally, and board members who would hear his concerns.

She said her role in the matter was misunderstood due to an error in a letter the parent had presented to the board the same day the NJPSA letter was received.

Superintendent of Schools Enid Golden and Assistant Superintendent Herb Massa received the letter from Wayne Oppito, the attorney representing the NJPSA.

Golden said Nowicki’s involvement in the matter, as described by Nowicki to a reporter, was consistent with her understanding of the matter as Nowicki had related it to members of the board and certain administration officials.

In his letter dated Feb. 18, the day following Nowicki’s resignation from the board, Oppito said it had been reported to the NJPSA that Nowicki "... appears to have confused her role as a board member with the role of a school administrator."

Oppito charged that Nowicki had attempted to involve herself in the administration and operation of all of Howell’s schools. He claimed the association had received "concerns from seven administrators regarding accusations made by Ms. Nowicki about them which equates to criticism of school personnel contrary to the Code of School Ethics."

Oppito informed Golden and Massa that the Howell Township Administrative Council had been advised that in light of the allegations against Nowicki, it had the right to file a complaint with the School Ethics Commission. He asked Golden and Massa to speak to Nowicki regarding her behavior as a board member.

When asked what the district’s policy is for dealing with a board member who is facing such allegations, Golden said the question was moot since Nowicki is no longer a board member. She said all matters relating to district personnel and volunteers are dealt with individually and according to specific guidelines.

Nowicki said her job as a board member is to represent residents and when a problem is presented to her she is "compelled to respond for the betterment of our school district and our community."

Nowicki said she is certain there were instances in which she was "impassioned." She said if she was guilty of anything it was "caring too much." Nowicki said she does not believe she ever said or did anything that could be taken as an affront to any member of the schools’ administration.

Of the NJPSA letter, she said, "This type of clearly incorrect, threatening writing from a union attorney, at the request of an administrator, has a chilling effect on board members." She said a board member who acts in a tentative manner has no place on a panel whose concerns should be focused on "the children, taxpayers and the staff when making a decision."

Nowicki said she was surprised to hear that seven school district administrators have allegedly spoken against her.

"Why do so many of them (administrative personnel) ask for my help with construction, educational or scheduling issues that affect their buildings or themselves directly? I find that very intriguing," she said.

Nowicki said if she is re-elected in April, she will "continue to strive for excellence in education and be mindful of our taxpayers. I will not let a threatening letter like this make me a tentative leader."