By: Richard L. Smith
A bid to extend Newark Superintendent Roger León’s contract by two years failed Thursday night after a long and heated meeting, according to minutes from the board session.
Following two hours of public comment and another lengthy private session, the Newark Board of Education voted 4 in favor, 2 abstentions, and 2 recusals—falling short of the five votes needed for passage.
Board Co-Vice Presidents Vereliz Santana and Allison James-Frison, along with members Josephine Garcia and Louis Maisonave Jr., supported the measure.
David Daughety and Melissa Reed abstained, while Board President Hasani Council and Kanileah Anderson recused themselves due to family ties in the district.
León, who earns more than $308,000 annually and is among the highest-paid superintendents in New Jersey, has three years left on his contract, which is set to expire in 2028.
He sought an additional two years that would have extended his tenure to 2030, placing him among the state’s longest-serving school leaders.
The vote revived concerns dating back to 2022, when León’s previous contract was automatically renewed without a public vote, sparking criticism over transparency.
That decision drew sharp pushback from community members who felt excluded from the process.
On Thursday, speakers once again voiced concerns about equity, overcrowding, and services for English learners and special education students.
Supporters of the extension countered that León’s “Next Decade” plan requires consistency in leadership to succeed.
While the contract extension was rejected, board members left the door open to revisiting the issue in the future.
For now, the decision stresses the divide between supporters who credit León with steady gains and critics who demand greater accountability from Newark’s school leadership.