Thursday, June 20, the Fair Lawn Board of Education voted 5 to 3, with one abstention, to involuntarily move Dena DeSantis, the senior member of the Fair Lawn High School Guidance Department, to the position of Middle School Student Assistance Counselor. Ms. DeSantis has served the Fair Lawn High School Guidance Department with distinction for the past 20 years and is the only current member of the department to have been recognized with the Governor’s Educational Specialist of the Year Award. She tearfully addressed the Board of Education, pleading for Board Members to vote against the involuntary reassignment.

Ms. DeSantis, a veteran High School Guidance Counselor at the top of the salary guide, will earn $114,300 next year in a position she does not wish to hold and is not passionate about performing. Although the district retains the right of assignment based on certification, Ms. DeSantis last held a part-time Middle School Substance Awareness Counselor position more than two decades ago before being hired by the Fair Lawn Public School District for the position of High School Guidance Counselor. She does not possess current best practices knowledge to be successful in this role serving middle school students but has a demonstrated track record of excellence in working with Fair Lawn High School students.

The Board Meeting, which was standing room only in support of Ms. DeSantis remaining at the high school, closed public comments after 30 minutes, despite others in attendance wishing to speak on her behalf. Additional comments submitted through the District’s Google Form supporting Ms. DeSantis were read into the record by Board Secretary Danielle Mancuso.

After listening to Ms. DeSantis’ impassioned plea and comments from parents, students, colleagues, and community members, Board of Education member Mark Spindel questioned why this position was not advertised to find a willing or suitable candidate and the reason for this reassignment. Superintendent Dr. Rui Dionisio declined to respond to Mr. Spindel’s question. Despite many Board Members espousing a platform of fiscal responsibility, there was no explanation as to why a counselor with 20 years’ experience and expertise who is at the top of the district’s salary guide is being transferred to a position that could be filled by an experienced, passionate Student Assistance Counselor hired at a fraction of Ms. DeSantis’ salary.

This reassignment further cripples the Fair Lawn High School Guidance Department, already impacted by an unfilled maternity leave and a recent resignation. It leaves more than 600 students without a dedicated Guidance Counselor heading into the fall, compounding existing difficulties with finalizing the master schedule for students and supporting seniors soon to apply to college.

The Fair Lawn Board of Education meeting can be viewed here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qcGep-UtVhs&t=28s