Superintendent Anthony Cavanna Resigning at End of Year

On Monday, the West Orange Board of Education passed a resolution stating that they had accepted the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Anthony Cavanna. 

The BOE and Cavanna released a joint statement:

On October 22, 2012, the West Orange Board of Education voted to accept the resignation of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anthony P. Cavanna, effective December 31, 2012.

Dr. Cavanna was appointed as Superintendent of the West Orange School District on July 1, 2009.

During Dr. Cavanna's tenure, the District's accomplishments included the receipt of over $4,000,000.00 in Federal grants.  As a result, the District was able to maintain programming in the face of significant reductions in State aid.

Dr. Cavanna sincerely appreciates having had the opportunity to work with the staff, parents, an community members in West Orange, but he especially appreciates being given the opportunity to contribute to the education of the students the District serves.

Cavanna was suspended on July 18 for undisclosed reasons.  It had been reported that the board was unhappy with Cavanna's performance as far back as July 2011.  The board also voted not to renew his contract, which was set to expire in June 2013.

The board had unanimously appointed Cavanna to a four-year term as superintendent in 2009. Before coming to West Orange, Cavanna worked in schools in New Jersey and New York as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and deputy superintendent of schools.

In August, the board chose James O’Neill -- a former superintendent in both Roxbury and Chatham schools -- to serve as interim superintendent for West Orange schools until June 2013.