SPRING VALLEY – East Ramapo’s school board has selected a new superintendent candidate, and state-appointed monitors have given the O.K., school board President Shimon Rose announced on June 16, during the board’s last regular meeting of the academic year.
But it remained unclear if the new superintendent will be in place by July 1, when the new 2026-2027 academic year starts.
“We are now in contract negotiations with the candidate,” Rose said. A public announcement would follow.
Current interim Superintendent Ana Reluzco, the second interim leader in as many years, leaves June 30.
She had been appointed interim by the school board at a special meeting in late June 2025, with a recommendation coming from both the monitors and the education commissioner. Reluzco was head of human resources for the district at the time.
Reluzco replaced Anthony DiCarlo, a former Mahopac superintendent and now superintendent in Pawling, who was appointed as interim in late June 2024 as the board sought a permanent replacement after opting not to renew the contract of Clarence Ellis.
This time, a temporary leader could be tricker to find. Two top administrators — the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, Ronald Gonzalez, and the executive director of secondary education, Beverley Jones — are also leaving June 30.
What happened with the board’s earlier pick?
All school board members had united on a superintendent pick this spring. The state-appointed monitors have the power to reject a superintendent choice and did.
A united board launched a failed state court challenge against the monitors and state Education Commissioner Betty Rosa over the rejection of their choice.
Shelley Jallow, the state education monitor, did not attend the June 16 meeting. Fiscal monitor Shawn Farr attended remotely.
East Ramapo: A district divided
Rockland County’s biggest and most diverse district serves about 9,500 public school children, the majority English language learners; another 35,000 children who live within the district’s boundaries attend private schools, mostly yeshivas that serve a growing Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish community.
The school board has long been dominated by members who are seen as favoring private-school needs. A federal court ruling to institute a ward system several years ago did not change the board’s balance.
With most children and families who live within the district not using public schools, it’s been a challenge to pass school budgets that include any significant tax levy increase.
Likely last meeting for Reluzco, no farewell
Trustee Yitzchock Gruber during the June 16 meeting criticized Reluzco for commenting about the “problem” of years of “insufficient tax levy increases” in a News 12 article on the NYCLU’s fifth annual report card on the district.
“We have $70 million in the bank today,” Gruber said to Reluzco, saying that district residents are saddled with high taxes. “Don’t tell us we don’t pay our fair share.”
Reluzco responded: “I will agree it’s a multifaceted problem. But I stand by my opinion.”
Reluzco made no farewell statement at the final regular meeting of the academic year; a special meeting could end up being scheduled by the end of the month. Trustees did not acknowledge her departure.
As the board members headed down to go into executive session at the administration building at 105 S. Madison Ave., Reluzco walked out the door.
Nancy Cutler covers People & Policy. Reach her at ncutler@lohud.com; follow her on X, Bluesky and Instagram at @nancyrockland.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: East Ramapo picks a superintendent. Will new leader be there in time?
Reporting by Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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By Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News | USA TODAY Network
