PARSIPPANY — The honor and distinction of the Eagle Scout rank can only be achieved through hard work and commitment to the ideals of the Scouting movement. The achievement is so rare, that only 5% of Scouts earn the Eagle rank. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million Scouts.

Once a Scout advances to Eagle Scout, they will remain an Eagle for the rest of their life regardless of age or participation in Scouting. Eagle Scouts are expected to set an example for other Scouts and to become the leaders in life that they have demonstrated themselves to be in Scouting. As such, they have disproportionately represented in the military, service academy graduates, higher education and academia, major professions, the clergy, business, and politics.

The pathway to Eagle can be described as a steep trail leading up to three peaks, the highest being that of Eagle Scout. Officially, the trail starts with the Tenderfoot rank and continues through Second and First Class ranks. Then, mountain climbing begins. The path is marked by merit badges, leadership responsibilities, service projects, and the practice of Scouting skills and ideals. The first peak reached is that of Star Scout, the second is Life Scout, and, finally, Eagle Scout.

On Sunday, May 22, Parsippany welcomed another scout who advanced to Eagle Scout, Andrew Smith Jr.

Andrew joined Scouts BSA Troop 72 – Parsippany in February of 2018.  Since then he has earned the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and now the highest rank in scouting Eagle.

He has earned the required 13 Eagle Scout Merit badges plus 13 others for a total of 26 Merit Badges. His position of responsibility within his troop is to serve as the Den Chief; where he assists the leaders of Parsippany Cub Scout Pack 215.

Additionally, Andrew was welcomed into the Order of the Arrow (the national honor society of the BSA) in May of 2021.

Andrew is completing his Freshman year at Parsippany High School.

PARSIPPANY — The former superintendent of Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Schools was accused of sexual harassment by a former secretary where he was recently employed.

Seitz served as interim superintendent of Holmdel schools from May 2020 to December 2021. He resigned for “personal reasons.”

Marie Deane, who has worked for Holmdel Township Public Schools since 2014, claimed in the lawsuit that Seitz repeatedly made misogynistic, sexually harassing, and discriminatory comments to Holmdel’s board of education staff members.

The lawsuit filed in Monmouth County Superior Court on March 15, also named district human resources manager Elena Jaume and the board of education.

It seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages and back pay and benefits following Deane’s reinstatement to her executive secretary position after being reassigned to Holmdel High School.

It also requested the defendants undergo anti-discrimination and harassment training.

On September 24, 2021, Seitz informed the Holmdel board of education’s interim director of student services, Carolyn Marano, that several women who attended a recent meeting with him dressed provocatively in an attempt to persuade him on various topics discussed at the meeting, the complaint alleged.

The complaint also alleged that on October 18, 2021, Seitz inappropriately discussed a school nurse’s concern with a parent’s request to provide cream to a student’s genital area, saying, “Oh, come on Carolyn, we’ve got to have several pedophiles on staff that would volunteer to put Desitin on the child, haha. I want to see the job description for this, haha.”

The lawsuit said that when Deane spoke up about the harassing and discriminatory comments, she was “forced to work from home while Seitz, remarkably, suffered no consequences and/or discipline whatsoever.”

Seitz obtained Deane’s work passwords and rummaged through her accounts while she was working from home in an attempt to learn the details of her complaints about his comments, the lawsuit said.

“Even worse, Defendant Seitz ultimately locked her out of her work accounts, effectively prohibiting her from completing her work assignments,” the lawsuit said.

Former Governor Chris Christie imposed a superintendent salary cap of $175,000 that took effect in February 2011 and criticized the Parsippany Board of Education for approving a 2009 amendment to Seitz’s contract that raised his salary for the 2009-10 school year to a base of $212,020. With additional stipends and increases over the terms of that five-year contract, Seitz stood to collect as much as $234,065 in the final year.

Christie publicly criticized the move, referring to Seitz as “The poster boy for greed.” Faced with the potential loss of $2.3 million in state aid for the next school year, the board on July 12, 2011, passed a resolution to rescind the contract.

The board under threat of lost state aid and other sanctions, later reduced Seitz’s salary by $43,000 to comply with the cap. Seitz then sued the Parsippany Board of Education and former Executive County Superintendent Kathleen Serafino for breach of contract. The Board of Education filed a counterclaim to recoup the overpayment of salary to Seitz.

Seitz then retired from Parsippany-Troy Hills in May 2013; and was rehired on December 1, 2015, as an intern Superintendent and received a contract that ran through June 2016. (Click here to view the contract). His base pay is $682 per day, which calculates to an annual salary of $177,580. (Click here to read the related article)

Seitz returned to his former post, which was vacated in September 2015 following another controversy that resulted in the resignation of Superintendent Scott Rixford.

On May 30, 2015, Administrative Law Judge J. Howard Solomon in Newark dismissed with prejudice Seitz’s petition and concluded that the Board of Education was entitled to recoup the salary paid to Seitz over and above the adjusted salary cap of $177,500.

MORRIS COUNTY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced that 29 students from New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, including Sathvik Medapati, Kelsey Mogan, and Tyler Catapano, from Parsippany – who was appointed.

These students will begin their education and service careers this year at the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Rep. Sherrill hosted an event to recognize the students this week in Denville.

“As a graduate of a service academy, I am truly honored to now have the congressional responsibility to nominate students from my district to these distinguished institutions. Each and every one of these students demonstrates impressive levels of commitment to their academics, extracurricular pursuits, and community, which will serve them well as they enter our nation’s service academies. I am proud of their decision to serve our country and wish them the best of luck going forward,” said Rep. Sherrill.

The 28 NJ-11 students attending U.S. Service Academies:

• Sathvik Medapati, Parsippany – U.S. Military Academy
• Tyler Catapano, Parsippany – U.S. Military Academy
• Kelsey Mogan, Parsippany – U.S. Naval Academy
• Andrew Ross, Morris Plains – U.S. Naval Academy
• Molly Webber, Morris Plains – U.S. Military Academy
• Margaret Crimmins, Madison – U.S. Military Academy
• Grayson Farrell, Madison – U.S. Military Academy
• Luke Bradley, Madison –  U.S. Air Force Academy
• Daniel Daly, Wayne – U.S. Naval Academy
• Fabian France, Woodland Park – U.S. Naval Academy
• Krish Malhotra, Livingston – U.S. Naval Academy
• Giovanni Rivera, Morristown – U.S. Naval Academy
• Aayush Sharma, Montville – U.S. Naval Academy
• Robert Trafford, West Caldwell – U.S. Naval Academy
• Ethan Xiao, Livingston – U.S. Naval Academy
• Connor Ailara, Sparta – U.S. Military Academy
• Ciaran Bowler, Morristown – U.S. Military Academy
• Larissa Donohue, Randolph – U.S. Military Academy
• Travis Ehrenberg, Randolph – U.S. Military Academy
• Daniel Golgorosky, Towaco – U.S. Military Academy
• Charlize Lowrie, Byram – U.S. Military Academy
• Jack Maraziti, Sparta – U.S. Military Academy
• Thomas McCormack, Wanaque – U.S. Military Academy
• Shane Percelay, Rockaway – U.S. Military Academy
• Leonardo Rostello, Wayne – U.S. Military Academy
• Thomas Sennett, Chatham – U.S. Military Academy
• Nicholas Tavarone, Denville – U.S. Military Academy
• Owen Dickson, West Caldwell – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
• William Schlegel, Mendham – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

Rep. Sherrill graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 and went on to serve as a Sea King helicopter pilot and Russian policy officer in the U.S. Navy for almost 10 years.

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James R. Barberio, Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Richard Pantina, and The Morris County Professional Counselor Association presented the 2022 Caring Student Award to David Zilinskis of Parsippany Hills High School.

The Caring Student Award is the highest honor that MCPCA can award to a student in Morris County. David was nominated by his high school counselor for his service and kindness.

Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, June 2022. Click here.