Mount Olive Superintendent Robert Zywicki, who was put on administrative leave last night, has filed tort claims against two Board of Education members for $10 million.

According to New Jersey Hills, at last night’s school board meeting the Board named Assistant Superintendent Sumit Bangia as “Acting Superintendent” for $2,500 per month and put an “unidentified employee” who is most likely Zywicki on paid leave “until further notice.”  Zywicki’s legal action is not a lawsuit but a notice that he may file a lawsuit.

Zywicki told NJ Hills that the tort claims are $5.13 million each against Board members Antoine Gayles and William Robinson, two of the members who voted for Bangia’s promotion and Zywicki’s new status. The votes were unanimous except for the Board president who recuses himself from personnel actions because he has two children who work in the district. Zywicki suggested that the media file Open Public Records requests to find out what happened behind the scenes.

Meeting attendees had mixed reactions to the Board’s actions. Some “applauded” the move and others “blasted the board” for its lack of transparency.

Zywicki says he loves Mount Olive and wants to stay.