In July of 2020 with two years currently remaining on her existing contract, Roxbury Schools Superintendent Loretta Radulic was granted a new 5 year contract in the amount of $235,184.00 with a guaranteed increase of 2% each year until 2025. This took place at a virtual Board of Education meeting in the middle of a global pandemic. There was no public discussion or explanation about the matter. At the time of this contract signing, Loretta Radulic became one of the top 20 highest paid superintendents in the state. For reference, there are currently 599 school districts in New Jersey. Over the course of 5 years this contract will cost the district ($1,223,906.80)

• $235,184.00 (20-21 School Year)
• $239,887.70 (21-22 School Year)
• $244,685.50 (22-23 School Year)
• $249,579.00 (23-24 School Year)
• $254,570.60 (24-25 School Year)
• $1,223,906.80 (5 Year Contract Payout)

     In addition to this very lucrative salary, Loretta Radulic also receives more than $30,000 in tuition reimbursement. She obtained her Doctorate in 2021 on the backs of hard working Roxbury Township families who earn just a fraction of her salary. What exactly does Roxbury Township get for this new $1.5 Million price tag?

     Loretta Radulic has been the Roxbury Township School Superintendent since 2016, Assistant since 2012. At her appointment to superintendent she was quoted as saying “This is a great district and it’s only going to get better.” It hasn’t gotten better. In fact, it has gotten consistently worse since she took up the superintendent position. A quick internet search reveals numerous websites and community groups created for parents / guardians whose children were assaulted, tormented, bullied by other students, and let down by Loretta Radulic and the district employees she is responsible for. In addition, many of the normal Roxbury Township groups are also flooded with comments, threads, and concerns about school safety, unanswered questions, and lack of transparency. Some of the more active ones include:

 

• RoxburySchoolConcerns.org
• Roxbury School System Bullying Watch Group (FB)
• Roxbury Township NJ Community Forum (FB)
• Tap into Roxbury (FB)
• Roxbury High School Parents Forum (FB)
• Roxbury Schools Parent Group (FB)
• [Redacted] (FB) - a BOE member demanded we remove this group. No mention of saftey concerns. 
• Roxbury’s Mom’s Group (FB)
• Cool Moms of Roxbury & Friends (FB)

     This is how Roxbury Township Schools compare to other districts in the area. These are some updated scores from the US News World Report School Rankings for the Roxbury Township area:

Overall Score - Name of High School - Superintendent (Salary)

97.43/100 - Chatham High School - Michael LaSusa ($244,972.00)

95.53/100 - Madison High School - Mark Schwarz ($188,515.00)

92.4/100 - Randolph High School - Jennifer Fanno ($226,514.00)

91.64/100 - Mount Olive High School - Robert R. Zywicki ($235,000.00)

89.27/100 - Morris Hills High School - James J. Jencarelli ($222,560.00)

87.98/100 - Parsippany Hills High School - Barbara Sargent ($206,505.00)

87.79/100 - Morris Knolls High School - James J. Jencarelli ($222,560.00)

84.58/100 - Dover High School - James McLaughlin ($186,846.00)

75.06/100 - Jefferson Township High School - Jeanne Howe ($206,256.00)

67.99/100 - Lenape Valley Regional High School - Paul Dirupo ($180,293.00)

67.96/100 - Roxbury High School - Loretta Radulic ($235,184.00+)

45.67/100 - Hopatcong High School - Joseph S. Piccirillo ($140,200.00)

    While these unacceptable school rankings are a major concern, they are not the only serious issues that are plaguing Roxbury Township School District helmed by Loretta Radulic. Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) cases have seen a dramatic rise in recent years in the district. According to the most recent superintendents reporting, nearly 50 HIB incidents were investigated from Sept - Dec 2021 (4 Months). More than half of those were considered non HIB incidents. When asked about the high number of "unfounded/inconclusive” results it was revealed that not only was this not looked into, there is almost no data analysis on the subject.

     My oldest daughter is a kindergartner who was physically assaulted by a 1st grader on her school bus. She had her hair cut off and she was teased with it. The bus driver did not see the incident occur but witnessed the cut off hair and identified, as well as wrote up the student up who assaulted my daughter. No less then four (4) other students saw and/or interacted with the hair and put the person who assaulted my daughter at the scene of the crime and in possession of the hair. We also submitted pictures less than 1 hour after the incident showing the cut off section of hair and a red mark on my daughters neck. The incident was deemed "unfounded / inconclusive.” The mental health of my child and her siblings took a major hit because of this easily preventable assault.

     We demanded the full investigation reports and realized very quickly that not only was HIB investigation completely unorganized, it also revealed numerous deficiencies in the HIB process as a whole that led the district to incorrectly and dangerously come to their conclusion. Proper paperwork wasn’t filled out, interviews weren’t conducted, evidence wasn’t gathered, potentially unqualified people conducted interviews. We are currently in the process of ensuring that the entire HIB investigation and reporting procedures get audited and fixed to ensure the safety of all Roxbury Township children. A lack of acceptable investigation practices is a major reason why these HIB claims are being considered “unfounded/inconclusive."

     While investigating these violations of our child's rights as a student we learned that a single bus driver with no assistance or aide is responsible for up to 55+ elementary school children. How can a single driver pay attention to the road and keep 55+ children from assaulting each other or provide emergency medical assistance if needed. The answer is they can’t. The buses aren’t even equipped with recording devices. It’s 2022, cameras on buses should be standard safety protocol as with aides for elementary school buses.

     While addressing our concerns and frustrations with Loretta Radulic about the very important safety and security deficiencies, my wife and I dealt with numerous instances of disrespect, snarky email responses, general withholding of information, and her insistence that other public district employees refer all of our concerns to her regardless if she knew the answers or not. Is this an acceptable practice for the Roxbury Township School Superintendent?

     In researching the HIB deficiencies I discovered many other citizens who had children victimized at school and were also dismissed and disrespected by Loretta Radulic. These children ranged from (Bullied, to assaulted, to sexually assaulted). A teacher was forced to resign because she needed to take 4 unpaid days to care for a sick relative. She was told show up or resign.  Is this an acceptable practice for the Roxbury Township School Superintendent?

     Some other notable events that have happened under Loretta Radulic’s leadership are as follows:

• 8th Grader Commits Suicide 2020 (Services Scheduled for Roxbury Middle Schooler)​ (News Report)
• A former Roxbury Township School District employee becomes whistleblower accuses Superintendent of Misappropriation of funds among other things. (Roxbury School Officials Broke Law says Former Business Administrator)
• Husband of Roxbury Township Superintendent fired from job and brought up on Misappropriation of funds charges 2019 (State of NJ vs Dennis Radulic) ** Link Broken awaiting new link
• A special needs child was assaulted by a district employee, Radulic was named in a potential lawsuit. (Parents of Dangled Roxbury Kid File Lawsuit Warning)
• Another Unqualified District Employee 2018 (News 12)
• Teacher gives the finger to parent via online classroom, receives a slap on wrist until media gets involved. (Flipping the Bird)
• Roxbury High School Drops 90 Points within first two years of New Superintendent (Massive Drop in Rankings)
• Roxbury Jewish Students Excluded From School Events (Exclusion)
• Flag Removed from Teachers Classroom (Comment Thread)
• Anti Trump T-Shirt Displayed in Roxbury High School Classroom (Anti-Trump Display in Classrooms)

     This was just from very minimal searching. I am sure with more digging a lot of other similar situations will come to light. 

     Some of the actions or inactions that can be cause for the removal of a Superintendent are as follows:

• Failure to maintain an effective working relationship, or maintain good rapport with parents, the community, staff, or the Board.
• Deficiencies pointed out in evaluations, supplemental memoranda, or other communications.
• Any activity, school-connected or otherwise, that, because of publicity given it or knowledge of it among student, faculty, or community, impairs or diminishes the Superintendent’s effectiveness in the District.
• Incompetence or inefficiency in the performance of required or assigned duties
• Neglect of duties or responsibilities, or the conduct of personal business during school hours.
• Failure to meet the District’s standards of professional conduct.
• Immorality, which is conduct the Board determines is not in conformity with the accepted moral standards of the community encompassed by the District.
• Falsification of records or other documents related to the District’s activities;
• Misrepresentation of facts to the Board or other District officials in the conduct of District business.
• Mismanagement of District financial resources.

     I urge all of you to do your own research, don’t just take my word for it. See who is leading our schools. See who is allowing bully’s to go unpunished. See who is punishing victims. See who dismisses your concerns. See the way the superintendent talks to you. See what you are getting for that $1.5 Million Dollar Price tag.

     If you have had any negative experience with the current school administration helmed by Loretta Radulic, if your HIB investigation was handled improperly, if your child was a victim, if child safety and mental health is important to you, then please consider signing this petition to remove the Roxbury Township Schools Superintendent. Don’t be afraid to always let your voices be heard.

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Trenton, NJ 08625-0500

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