BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer
ENGLISHTOWN – At its April 24 reorganization meeting, the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education welcomed a new member, Joan Leimbach, of Howell, to the panel.
Leimbach unseated incumbent Terry Kraft in the April 18 election to win one of Howell’s two seats on the nine-member board. Shortly after taking her seat on the board, Leimbach initiated what proved to be an executive shakeup.
During nominations for the position of vice president, Leimbach nominated her fellow Howell representative, Ronald Lawson.
Englishtown representative Diana Cappiello nominated Marlboro representative Bonnie Rosenwald for the position she (Rosenwald) held last year.
The move was a flashpoint in the meeting.
Rosenwald defended her candidacy by reading a prepared statement.
“For the past two years, I have had the honor and privilege to serve this board,” she said. “Mr. Lawson has missed and been late for meetings, not attended some executive sessions and, to my knowledge, has not been present for any continuing education programs. There is no doubt about my desire for the continued success of this district.”
The board uses a voting system in which each member casts a vote that carries a certain number of points based on the population of the municipality he or she represents.
When the question was called, Lawson voted for himself and received votes from Bunny Hammer of Freehold Borough and Leimbach. That gave him a total of 2.9 points.
Rosenwald voted for herself and received votes from Kathie Lavin of Farmingdale and Cappiello. That gave her a total of 2.4 points.
With Colts Neck representative Christopher Placitella not present at the time of the voting and the Freehold Township seat vacant because of a resignation, that left newly re-elected board President Patricia Horvath of Manalapan to cast her deciding vote worth 1.45 points.
“I indicated to both candidates that I would vote with the majority. Unfortunately, we can’t have two vice presidents so I feel, at this time, I will cast my vote for Ron Lawson,” Horvath said.
She thanked Rosenwald for her service as the previous vice president, saying, “Bonnie has done an excellent job. She has been an extremely active board member.”
Lawson took his appointment in stride.
“I’m happy about it,” he said. “It is gratifying that my colleagues had confidence in me. The goal is to continue the good work that we are doing.”
Prior to the vote for a vice president, Horvath was re-elected president with the support of the other six board members who were present, plus her own vote.
In other business, the board made a few changes to the 2005-06 academic calendar and its 2006-07 board meeting schedule.
Since district administrators only used one of four emergency closing days built into the 2005-06 calendar, the six high schools will now be closed on two upcoming Fridays – May 26 and June 9.
Superintendent of Schools James Wasser recommended holding on to the fourth emergency closing day in case a situation arises where the schools would need to be closed.
Meanwhile, on the topic of board meetings, Rosenwald said she believes the board should hold additional regular meetings due to the size of the district and the board’s responsibilities.
Board members voted 6-1 to add two meetings to the calendar. Cappiello cast the dissenting vote.
The board’s May 15 meeting at the FRHSD administration building has been canceled. The board will now meet on May 8 and May 22 at the administration building. The meetings will begin at 8 p.m. An 8 p.m. meeting on Nov. 6 at the administration building has been added to the board’s schedule.