By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
WEST AMWELL — The South Hunterdon Board of Education swore in newly elected members last week during a reorganization meeting when new officers also were elected.
Bob Campbell, of Lambertville, was elected president, taking the place of longtime president Douglas Coleman, whose term expired this year.
Mr. Campbell is a 25-year city resident. He also is a retired New Jersey State Police lieutenant.
He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a dual concentration in English and psychology from Trenton State College, now The College of New Jersey.
Nicole Claus, of West Amwell, was elected vice president after she was sworn to her third three-year term on the board.
Ms. Claus is a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree from Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing. She is pursuing a master’s degree in health care administration and health care education.
She is a 1982 South Hunterdon graduate. She continues a tradition begun by her father, who served on the board as a representative of Stockton for 13 years.
The board is committed to providing a quality education, according to Ms. Claus.
She said, “I want the community to see us as a committed group of individuals who want to provide the best education we can with the understanding that we do have limited resources, which not only fund South Hunterdon but the elementary schools as well.
”Over the next few years, I know the board will support the efforts of the administration as they proceed with the implementation of new programs and methods of teaching and evaluation that will, over time, increase our test scores and encourage students to return to the district as well as new tuition students.
”We need to let the community know what our goals are and keep them up to date on our progress as we move towards achieving them. There are many challenges in providing an education both academically and socially in a small school, and, certainly, I understand the concerns of the homeowners in regards to increased taxes as a result of these challenges.”
Also sworn in last week were Cheryl Carpenter and Daniel Seiter, both of Lambertville.
Ms. Carpenter recently was elected to her second three-year term
Ms. Carpenter works in the field of health-care administration. She also is a chemical engineer with a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University who previously specialized in hazard analysis.
Mr. Seiter is director of pricing strategies for Centocor Ortho Biotech Services, a Johnson and Johnson company. He, too, is a chemical engineer, and he also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University.