Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST) is going through a major leadership change.
The Board of Education recently appointed Dr. Joseph Sirangelo as the acting superintendent and Trustee Joe Cossolini as the acting board secretary.
The decisions were made after Superintendent Amy Lin-Rodriguez and Board Secretary Joey Muniz were suspended due to a lawsuit and serious allegations.
Here’s everything you need to know about these changes and what they mean for the district.
- Dr. Joseph Sirangelo is now acting superintendent, and Joe Cossolini is acting board secretary for HCST.
- Superintendent Lin-Rodriguez and Board Secretary Muniz were suspended following allegations and a lawsuit.
- HCST aims to rebuild trust and restore focus on education under its new interim leadership.
Joseph Sirangelo Becomes Acting Superintendent
Dr. Joseph Sirangelo, a long-time HCST leader, has taken over as the acting superintendent.
He’s been with HCST since 1990 and has served as the Director of Planning, Research, and Evaluations and as an assistant superintendent.
It’s safe to say Dr. Sirangelo’s education is impressive.
He earned a doctorate in leadership from Columbia University in 2002 and a master’s degree in school administration from Columbia University in 2005.
Many people in the county think he’s a great fit for the job, calling him capable, well-qualified, and easy to work with.
The board supported his appointment with a unanimous vote of 8-0.
Trustee Monica Fundora, who is also a councilwoman in Guttenberg, introduced the motion, which Trustee Arthur Pettigrew, vice president of the Harrison Board of Education, seconded.
Trustee Adam Parkinson, a commissioner from West New York, missed the vote but arrived later during the meeting.
Trustee Joe Cossolini Named Acting Board Secretary
In addition to Dr. Sirangelo’s appointment, Trustee Joe Cossolini was chosen as the acting board secretary.
Cossolini is also the president of the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association (POBA), a role that demonstrates his leadership abilities.
The board’s decision to appoint Cossolini passed with a 7-0(1) vote, with Cossolini abstaining from voting for himself.
Trustee Arthur Pettigrew made the motion, and Trustee Denise D’Alessandro, Hudson County’s director of roads and public property, seconded it.
Cossolini’s role will involve handling some of the board secretary’s responsibilities while the district adjusts to these leadership changes.
Why These Changes Were Necessary
These appointments come after a lawsuit and allegations involving Superintendent Amy Lin-Rodriguez and Board Secretary Joey Muniz.
Muniz filed a lawsuit claiming retaliation and discrimination in the workplace.
He also alleged an 18-year affair with Lin-Rodriguez, which he said created a toxic work environment.
The lawsuit claims the relationship began in 2006, long before Lin-Rodriguez became superintendent in 2018.
According to Muniz, the affair ended earlier this year, but the fallout left him in a hostile work situation.
Then, Lin-Rodriguez and Muniz were suspended after the lawsuit was made public.
During the meeting, the board formalized these suspensions.
Muniz’s suspension was approved by an 8-1 vote, with Trustee Hector Zulueta voting against it.
Lin-Rodriguez’s suspension was approved unanimously, 9-0.
Behind the Scenes at the Board Meeting
The HCST board meeting where these decisions were made was anything but routine.
Joey Muniz attended, sitting with his attorney, Stephen J. Edelstein, and his wife.
Edelstein briefly requested a closed-session hearing, which the board granted, though no public discussion occurred.
After an hour-long closed session, the board returned to finalize the suspensions of Muniz and Lin-Rodriguez.
They also voted on their consent agenda, which included the appointments of Sirangelo and Cossolini.
What This Means for HCST’s Future
HCST now faces the challenge of moving forward under new interim leadership.
Dr. Sirangelo’s years of experience and respected status within the district make him a strong candidate to guide HCST through this turbulent period.
His supporters believe he’s the steady hand the district needs to restore confidence among staff, students, and the community.
Meanwhile, Joe Cossolini’s leadership skills, honed as president of the Jersey City POBA, will be tested as he takes on his responsibilities as acting board secretary.
