HASBROUCK HEIGHTS -- One of the state's highest-paid superintendents will resign after the state found that she transferred her daughter, a district employee, to a different office without the board's approval and covered security cameras so they wouldn't record the daughter working.

Dawn Fidanza, superintendent of the South Bergen Jointure Commission, submitted her resignation, effective Dec. 31, and will be placed on a leave of absence effective Nov. 1.

Dawn Fidanza

Board President Gregorio Maceri would not say whether it was a paid leave.

Fidanza will be "primarily" working in another location in the district before her leave of absence while the board secures an interim superintendent, Maceri said.

Fidanza, who earns a base salary of $236,735, was the eighth highest-paid superintendent in the state last school year.

The Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance in the state's Department of Education investigated Fidanza after receiving a complaint about her conduct.

The state found that Fidanza transferred her daughter, Julia Fidanza, to another job in the district without the board's approval in early 2016.

The state further found that Fidanza tried to influence a supervisor's evaluation of the daughter. She also covered the lenses of cameras in the office where her daughter worked so co-workers would not see "the comings and goings of her daughter," according to the state's findings.

A synopsis of the investigation's conclusions was posted on the district's website.

Fidanza did not return multiple requests for comment.

Julia Fidanza's last day in the district was June 30, Maceri said. She earned $47,200, according to state salary records.

The South Bergen Jointure Commission is a state-approved Board of Education to provide services to local school districts. The services include transportation to field trips, personnel and special ed classes. It has 276 students enrolled.

It is governed by a board of 14 school officials from local districts.

"Sufficient checks and balances are in place to avoid a reoccurrence of the underlying problems that gave rise to the OFAC's findings," Maceri said.

The state did not determine in its findings that the district violated any regulations and it wasn't required to put together a "corrective action plan," Maceri said.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.

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