We, the concerned parents, students, and community members, demand the immediate resignation of the Township of Union Public Schools Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, Marissa McKenzie. The facts outlined below demonstrate that the Township of Union Board of Education’s hiring of Marissa McKenzie opposes the best interest of the district and the school children of the Township of Union.

As the below timeline suggests, Ms. McKenzie used her official position on the Township of Union Board of Education to "secure unwarranted privileges, advantages or employment" for herself. Furthermore, while Ms. McKenzie served as Business Administrator for the East Orange Public School District, the district incurred a $25M deficit.

• Marissa McKenzie resigned from the Board of Education on January 9, 2024. Five days prior, on January 4, 2024, Ms. McKenzie voted, along with other members of the BOE, to change the Board Policy that previously prohibited a board member from obtaining a paid district position for two years after resigning or leaving the board, to only 6 months.
• Marissa McKenzie served as the Township of Union Board of Education member and President just 6 months prior to being hired as an Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations for the Township of Union Public School District.
• In April 2024 (less than 4 months after resignation), Ms. McKenzie entered into a contract with the District to start a new position as Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations at the Township of Union Board of Education on July 10, 2024.
  • Additionally, in violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:7-8(j) and N.J.A.C 6A:23A-3.1(c), the Board entered into the contract with Ms. McKenzie before having it approved by the Superintendent of Schools.  Despite the violation, the County Superintendent approved the Contract.
  • Ms. McKenzie’s contract provides her with a base salary of $193,834 with a total compensation package of $287,592 that includes close to $100K in fringe benefits, not limited to the following: $38,720 health insurance benefits, $5,000 home computer, $5,000 tuition reimbursement and $10,000 professional development.
  • Ms. McKenzie does not possess a certificate to serve as Assistant Superintendent and her certification is being paid for by the District (seemingly as part of her compensation package).   
  • Ms. McKenzie’s contract provides tenure after only 120 days in her position in contrast to the typical 4 years a new teacher has to wait.   
• Prior to her position with the Township of Union Public School District, Marissa McKenzie was employed by the East Orange School District as the Business Administrator/ Board Secretary.
  • In October, 2024, the East Orange School District announced they were going to eliminate 93 positions, citing a $25 million dollar deficit.
  • East Orange school officials violated state rules when they failed to notify the state Department of Education that the Essex County district’s budget was deeply in the red, according to NJ state officials.

As concerned parents, students, community members and other stakeholders and taxpayers in this district, we are calling for the immediate resignation of Ms. McKenzie as the Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations.  

Our District is facing extraordinary challenges, which include low academic performance scores at our schools, security issues at the Union High School and Burnet, and the sudden closure of an entire elementary school (Hannah Caldwell) for mold remediation.  

All these issues will have to be addressed by the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations who will be responsible for soliciting bids, entering into massive contracts, and navigating the financial health of our District.   

Furthermore, as the timeline suggests, Ms. McKenzie may be in violation of School Ethics Commission, 18A:12-24 by using her official position on the Township of Union Board of Education to "secure unwarranted privileges, advantages or employment" for herself.

Under Ms. McKenzie’s leadership as Business Administrator for East Orange, the East Orange School District budget plummeted to a $25M deficit.

We the undersigned do not have confidence that Ms. McKenzie is qualified to ethically or competently lead the Township of Union Board of Education during this challenging period.  

We demand her immediate resignation.