Midland Park August 31, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Nicholas Capuano has been named principal of Midland Park High School. His appointment was made at last week’s Midland Park Board of Education meeting. Capuano will be paid $125,000, prorated, for his term, which will run from Sept. 1 through June 30, 2012. Midland Park Superintendent of Schools Marie Cirasella, Ed.D. explained that the district had received 30 resumes for the principal’s post. Nine candidates were interviewed before the district selected Capuano, who has been a member of the district’s staff since 1998. A panel that included district administrators, a teacher representative, and several parents was involved in the selection process, the superintendent said. Dr. Cirasella explained that a survey regarding the principal selection process was made available to the community on the district’s website. She said that survey helped school officials frame the questions that were asked of the candidates, as each individual was asked to respond to specific areas of concern shared by parents and neighbors. “Mr. Capuano distinguished himself throughout the interview process as an experienced and enthusiastic school administrator,” Dr. Cirasella told Villadom TIMES last week. “His knowledge of the Midland Park community Trustees appoint Capuano high school principal will be very helpful as we seek to move Midland Park High School forward. We’re very excited to have Mr. Capuano continue as a member of our administrative team.” Capuano had been assistant principal at MPHS since 2007. The new principal said he wants to make sure the district will continue being student-centered as programs are developed. “We want to continue making Midland Park a competitive school,” Capuano said. “We’re going to push for academic excellence.” As he begins his new responsibilities in the district, Capuano said he will be looking at the new harassment and bullying policy and addressing those needs through the district’s Safety Teams, the district’s anti-bullying coordinator, and the high school’s anti-bullying specialist. The educator added that he will be reviewing the in-school suspension program, which addresses anti-bullying through counseling, and looking at students’ test scores and using them to drive lesson plans. “I want to be visible for parents and students,” he added, saying that he has been visible to the school community in various capacities in the past. Capuano will succeed Patricia Terraciano, who recently retired after serving as principal since July 2002. Teraciano is currently taking vacation time. Her resignation will become effective Aug. 31. When the school board accepted Terraciano’s resignation, the trustees also named Assistant Principal Nick Capuano acting principal from July 21 through Aug. 31. Capuano has been paid an additional $2,500 for the acting principal’s duties, and $1,250 for athletic director duties for the month of July. Last school year, Capuano held the combined position of assistant principal/athletic director following the retirement of the previous long-time athletic director, Ed Salvi, and the district’s loss of more than $1 million in state aid. He had been returned to full time status effective July 1, but he continued with the AD duties while the district sought a replacement for that part of his job. Ron Standridge was hired as part-time AD at the board’s July 19 meeting. He is being paid $40,000, prorated, from Aug. 1 to June 30, 2012. Capuano was a social studies teacher and head football coach at MPHS for nine years when he was promoted to assistant principal in 2007. He also headed the school’s successful strategic planning project. (continued on page 27)