Parents cheered the appointment.
HACKENSACK -- The Board of Education named Joseph Cicchelli acting superintendent Tuesday night to cheers from an audience of parents in the Hackensack High School auditorium.
Cicchelli, an assistant superintendent, takes over for Superintendent Karen Lewis, whom the board suspended Monday morning.
Board of Education President Jason Nunnermacker said he couldn't discuss the reasons for Lewis' suspension, citing state law. Nunnermacker said the decision was made after consulting each of the board members and the district attorney.
"There was a lot of difficult days and nights making this decision," he said.
Lewis signed a five-year contract in 2013 worth $167,500 annually.
The decision seemed to have the support of parents, who cheered when Nunnermacker announced that Cicchelli, who had been serving as assistant superintendent, would take over as "captain of this ship." Cicchelli is an alumnus of the Hackensack school system and has worked in the district more than 40 years.
"I think it's a great move," Nancy Wallace, president of the Hackensack High School PTSA, said. "He cares about the kids."
John Spadafino, an AP Physics and special education math teacher at the high school, said he hoped teachers would be more involved in the future.
"We do feel we've been left out over the past two years and we hope and pray there will be some change," he said. "Now is the opportunity."
Speaking after the Board of Education meeting, Spadafino said he didn't mean his comments as a criticism of Lewis, only that he wanted the district to take advantage of the opportunity to make changes. He declined to comment on Lewis.
"I withhold judgement on this, so I don't have a comment on the superintendent," he said.
With the decision, Nunnermacker said the district would re-examine staff renewal and transfer decisions to make sure the principals of each of Hackensack's schools agreed with the choices.
The board voted unanimously, with one abstention, to allow Cicchelli to take over for Lewis.
"I just hope I can live up to your expectations," Cicchelli said. "I will try. I've been here long enough."
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.