School board vacancy deadline is Feb. 1

Replacement sought for departed Reccoppa.

By: Lea Kahn
   A Feb. 1 deadline has been set for filing an application to replace former school board member Lawrence Reccoppa, who resigned earlier this month, said Schools Superintendent Max Riley.
   The Lawrence Township Board of Education plans to select Mr. Reccoppa’s replacement at a special meeting, set for Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lawrence High School Library. Mr. Reccoppa’s three-year term expires April 19.
   Nine of the original field of 11 candidates, who had sought to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of former school board member Janardhan Manickam, have expressed interest in filling Mr. Reccoppa’s seat, Dr. Riley said.
   One of the 11 candidates withdrew and one — Carole Drury of Karena Lane — was appointed to fill Dr. Manickam’s unexpired term at a special school board meeting Jan. 6. This leaves a field of nine applicants.
   Persons interested in applying to fill the vacancy must submit a brief letter outlining their reasons for seeking a seat on the school board, Dr. Riley said.
   Would-be school board members also must submit an affidavit that they meet the legal qualifications to serve on the board. The affidavit can be downloaded from the school district’s Web site at www.ltps.org, or obtained through the Business Administrator’s Office, which is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
   The legal qualifications include the ability to read and write. An applicant also must be a United States citizen and registered to vote, and must have lived in Lawrence for at least one year. An applicant may not be a member of Township Council, have a financial interest in any contract with the school board or have a claim against the school board.