Petition to the Randolph Board of Education:

Do Not Renew Superintendent Jennifer Fano’s Contract and Immediately Start a Search for a New Superintendent

Petition Statement

We, the residents, parents, educators, and taxpayers of Randolph, New Jersey, call on the Randolph Board of Education to decline to renew the contract of Superintendent Jennifer Fano, which expires in June 2027, and to immediately initiate a transparent search for new district leadership.

Why This Matters

The recent jury verdict in the Tracey Silverschotz lawsuit, which resulted in a judgment of nearly $900,000 against the Randolph Township School District, confirmed long-standing concerns about the leadership culture under Superintendent Fano. The jury found that, under her administration, retaliation occurred against a disabled and well-respected teacher—conduct that exposes the district to serious legal, financial, and reputational harm.

This verdict was not an anomaly. It reflects a broader and persistent pattern of leadership marked by vindictiveness, retaliation, lack of accountability, and disregard for risk to taxpayers.

Pattern of Concern

Concerns about Superintendent Fano’s leadership have been raised repeatedly—not only by parents and residents, but by district insiders:

A former Randolph Middle School principal testified under oath that if Ms. Fano wanted an employee or staff member to leave the district that she could or would take whatever measures necessary to get that person to leave the district.”

A former Randolph Board of Education member publicly described her as “a vindictive, control freak” and stated that, Ms. Fano “has nothing but contempt and suspicion for the public.”

Teachers have stood at the podium at public meetings to discuss her treatment of them and expressed their fear of retaliation.

These statements align with numerous documented actions and outcomes that have harmed students, staff, and the broader community.

Examples of Mismanagement and Poor Judgment

Under Superintendent Fano’s leadership, the district has experienced:

Costly Central Office renovations during the COVID-19 pandemic while school facilities deteriorated—ultimately requiring a taxpayer-funded bond referendum

Elimination or erosion of academic and extracurricular programs, including music, post-Calculus AP math, foreign language offerings, marching band, and multiple non-football athletic programs

Policies that restrict parental advocacy, coupled with a refusal to meet directly with concerned parents

Ongoing complaints from special education families alleging resistance to legally required accommodations under IEPs and 504 plans

Publicly referring to parents as “crazy” during an open Zoom meeting, followed by a month-long leave of absence amid backlash

A vote of no confidence by district faculty less than one year into her tenure

Manipulation of the school calendar around personal travel, including starting school earlier than neighboring districts, holding school when others are closed, refusing emergency closures, and attempting to eliminate religious holidays

Taxpayer-funded out-of-state “professional development” travel while teachers and coaches are forced to ask parents to donate basic classroom supplies and athletic equipment

Fiduciary Duty and Legal Risk to the Board

Members of the Randolph Board of Education have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the district and its taxpayers. This includes:

Exercising reasonable care and oversight

Avoiding foreseeable legal and financial risk

Acting in good faith to protect public funds

In her public statement following the Silverschotz verdict, Superintendent Fano stated that the district has “no regrets” about fighting the case and implied it would do so again—despite the nearly $1 million cost to taxpayers.

This statement should deeply concern the Board and the public. Continuing to retain or renew a superintendent who demonstrates no recognition of risk, no acceptance of responsibility, and no willingness to change course exposes the district—and the Board itself—to future litigation, financial loss, and potential claims of breach of fiduciary duty.

The question is no longer hypothetical:

Can Randolph afford to gamble taxpayer money on leadership that has already produced such costly outcomes?

Our Call to Action

Randolph’s students, educators, and taxpayers deserve leadership that is transparent, accountable, collaborative, fiscally responsible, and respectful of the community it serves.

For these reasons, we urge the Randolph Board of Education to:

1. Decline to renew Superintendent Jennifer Fano’s contract

2. Initiate an immediate, transparent search for new leadership

3. Prioritize student outcomes, staff morale, parental engagement, and protection of taxpayer resources

By signing this petition, we ask the Board to act now to restore trust, reduce legal and financial risk, and put the interests of Randolph’s students and community first.

Sign and share this petition to demand accountability and responsible leadership in Randolph schools.