Hardyston Before a room filled with parents and residents still upset over the board’s decision to fire popular principal Dominic Festante, the Hardyston Board of Education chose Jerome Wilson of West Milford to serve a four-month term as principal at Hardyston Elementary School. Wilson, a 34-year retired veteran teacher and administrator, was elected in a five to two vote, with only Board Members Jerry Lanzalotto and Thomas Urenovich voting against his appointment. Gary Dunlap and Randolph Roof were absent from the Tuesday evening meeting. Lanzalotto and Urenovich have consistently opposed the majority board position, backed by Roof. On June 12 the three men voted to retain Festante and to grant him tenure, and were joined on July 25 by Edward Blahut in voting to support tenure for Festante and returning him to the principal post. Lanzalotto said that he opposed Wilson’s appointment because the $400 a day he will be paid exceeds the salary the district paid Festante when he served as interim principal and carried heavier responsibilities. Wilson will serve without benefits from Aug. 27 until Dec. 21. Superintendent Dennis Tobin cited Wilson’s educational background and many years of experience as the reason for the higher pay. This includes 19 years as a school administrator, as well as 10 years as a principal in a West Milford elementary school. Christine Brenner challenged the board to define the qualities of excellence that made Wilson superior to Festante, but board attorney Alan Schnirman cautioned the board not to discuss the issue publicly, even though the former principal had sent a letter to the board waiving his right to confidentiality. There was, Schnirman said, a strong possibility of future litigation that would make public commentary inappropriate. “As a voter, I want to elect representatives who decide issues on behalf of the public good and not on the basis of personal issues,” Brenner said, referring to the pervasive allegation that Festante was dismissed for personal and political reasons and not for any flaw in his performance as principal. Joanne Roof, wife of board member Randolph Roof, questioned why parents hadn’t been involved in any aspect of the process for hiring the interim principal. Roof has been one of Festante’s most vocal supporters. “How could we know to ask questions about a candidate we’ve just heard of tonight,” Roof said. “Tell us what this man’s credentials are.” In the wake of Festante’s dismissal, parents have been collecting signatures for a recall election that they hope would put board president Margaret (Marbeth) Boffa and others out of office. For the recall petition to succeed, the parents must gather 1,137 signatures from registered Hardyston voters. The number of signatures required is based on 25 percent of the number of voters registered in Hardyston during the most recent general election, said County Board of Elections Administrator Margaret L. McCabe. Hardyston has a total of 4,481 registered voters. Of those, fewer than 1,000 voted in the April school board election, board of elections records show. Organizer Meg Brinster says they aren’t there yet, but the campaign is gathering momentum and support from concerned residents across the township.