Assistant Principal John Puccio was approved as the Pascack Valley interim principal from Jan. 2 until July 1, according to the Board of Education’s regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 9. A search open to internal and external candidates for the permanent principal will be held after the new year, according to district Superintendent Erik Gundersen. 

Puccio was unable to comment on Monday.

“I’m happy that Mr. Puccio’s going to be able to help us out for the remainder of the year,” Gundersen said. 

Current Pascack Valley Principal Tom DeMaio is retiring after 18 years, and his last day is Dec. 20, the day before winter break. Two of the three administrative positions are interims, marking the first time in 12 years that changes have been made to the administration.

“Mr. Puccio is going to need some assistance in the main office, and Mr. DeMaio is leaving, creating a huge void,” said Gundersen, who is deciding if there will be another additional assistant principal to “fill the gap.”  

The administration originally planned on hiring a retired former principal for the interim position, but Gundersen said the options were “not as good” as making Puccio the temporary principal for the remainder of the school year.

“I think Mr. Puccio is really going to help continue the positive momentum that we’ve had this year at Pascack Valley,” Gundersen said.