EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK
By Ruth Luse
Monday’s special school board meeting which actually was a reception for the six Valley teachers who have received Governor’s Teacher Recognition Awards marked the end of a era for those of us who have known and worked with Sally Turner, outgoing board president and school board member.
It was Ms. Turner’s last official meeting as a member of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education, of which she has been a member representing Hopewell Township since April 1991. Ms. Turner decided not to seek a fifth term this year.
Ms. Turner’s current term ends on April 22, when the school board will meet to reorganize and members elected April 15 will be seated.
When Ms. Turner came on board, Edward F. Gola who followed the now late Dr. William J. Nunan (superintendent from 1965 when schools regionalized-1986) led the school district. He was followed by three others Frank Sinatra (interim), David Thomas and today’s Robert Sopko.
Also joining the school board with Ms. Turner in April 1991 were Mike Boyle and Patrick Brannigan of Pennington. Other board members were Robert Fortenbaugh (board president) of Hopewell Borough and Peter Rizza, Michael Rovello, John Sincak, John Townsend and Kenneth Verbeyst of Hopewell Township.
The early years of Ms. Turner’s tenure were stormy ones. It was not unusual for school board meetings often held then in the Timberlane Junior School cafetorium to attract close to 100 citizens. It was not always clear why the citizens came. It might have been for the entertainment value, because there always seemed to be a battle brewing among the various segments of the board at the time a situation that (on the surface at least) had not existed before that time nor has to any extent since. Topics in those days included concerns about school district building maintenance that some felt had gone unaddressed for years. Other heated topics included alleged illegal removal of asbestos from Toll Gate Grammar School during a construction project and a school district budget deficit that created heartaches and headlines for a time and ultimately resulted in a change of central office administration. Let it simply be said that often there was no love lost among some of the key players at those board meetings.
One of the issues raised during the early 1990s became a "passion" (her own word) for Ms. Turner. It is something she still cares deeply about today. That has been "to make sure that school facilities meet the needs of students and that they are maintained." She will, we know, continue to worry about this, long after she leaves. Ms. Turner’s dedication to her work as a school board member is not the kind that will end when she ceases to sit at the head of the table in the Board Meeting Room.
It is entirely fitting that the Hopewell Valley Foundation will honor Ms. Turner at its E-Squared (Education and Enterprise) Dinner in May. She will be lauded for the "time and talent she has given as a volunteer" and for her efforts that "made a difference in the lives of the children of the district."
Leaving the board Tuesday with Ms. Turner will be David Goldschmidt of Pennington. A six-year member of the board, Dr. Goldschmidt has been called a "mathematical genius" by a fellow member. He has contributed much to the budget-framing process during his tenure. And he, when he expressed an opinion, often had a way of getting to the heart of the matter at hand when others could not immediately see it. Dr. Goldschmidt decided not to seek a third term this year.
Dr. Goldschmidt’s former Pennington partner on the board, Ari Gabinet, resigned several months ago, but should not be forgotten here. Mr. Gabinet, characterized as "a thinker" by a fellow member, also had the courage to say what he felt was correct, whether or not others agreed with him.
It takes a lot of volunteer time, dedication and courage to serve on a school board. Those who tackle it with passion, as Ms. Turner has done, deserve much more than just thanks from the community. These people do the time, make the decisions and take the heat for all of us who do not choose to serve.
We wish Ms. Turner, Dr. Goldschmidt and Mr. Gabinet success in all future endeavors and ask them to accept our humble thanks, on behalf of the Valley community, for many tasks well done.

