BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
North Brunswick NORTH BRUNSWICK — A female president and a female vice president will head the Board of Education in 2005-06.
Gail DiPane and Connie Corbin were unanimously elected to the two top positions on the school board at the April 26 reorganization meeting.
“Obviously, both of these women have experience and are dedicated to providing the best positive steps for the education of our kids,” said Dr. Robert Rimmer, superintendent of schools.
DiPane, who is finishing her 11th year on the board, is back for her second year after an absence of three years.
“I sat on the outside, but it is much better to be involved internally,” she said.
DiPane is replacing Fred Manning as board president, who decided not to run for re-election this year because of personal reasons.
DiPane, who was president during the 1996-97 and 1999-2000 school years and vice president during 1995-96 and 1998-99, believes she can again do a good job handling the position.
“We have a wonderful administration. We have to make sure policies and procedures are taken care of. There can be no micromanaging,” she said.
Corbin has served on the school board since 1996. She served as board vice president from 1999-2000 and board president from 2000-2001. She is taking over the position from Curtis Kristjanson, who could not be reached for comment.
Corbin says the decision to run again was mutual between her and DiPane.
“I knew that Gail was interested in being president. We work well together. I think we’re going to have a wonderful and productive year,” she said.
There are several pressing issues that concern both DiPane and Corbin for the upcoming year.
“There are important issues ahead of us at this moment. The budget was defeated, and with all of the problems at the high school, we have to get the construction done,” Corbin said.
“There are a lot of things on our plates. We have to take it as it comes,” said DiPane. “We have to hire a new principal for the high school. We need to find the right person for it, someone with a background in strong discipline. We want to emulate what [Principal] Pete Clark does at Linwood [Middle School],” she said.
DiPane believes that she and Corbin will complement each other.
“We are best friends. We have the same ideals and the same thoughts. Yet, we agree to disagree and we compromise. We work well together,” she said.
New board members Mary Chyb and James Curran were sworn in at the meeting.
“The people of our township have strong feelings about education and see it as a high priority,” Chyb said. “It is always a concern when a budget does not pass, and now it will be a challenge for the leadership in the township to come to a good resolution.”
Curran is looking to make the best of his first term as a board member.
“I didn’t go in with any preconceived notions. I will listen and learn and then vote appropriately when I analyze the issues,” he said.