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SOUTH BRUNSWICK – New BOE members start term

By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
   Newly elected Board of Education members Patrick Del Piano, Deven Patel and incumbent Arthur Robinson were sworn in to their positions as board members by School Business Administrator and Board Secretary Anthony Tonzini, Monday night.
   Dr. Matthew Speesler, who was a member of the board for 15 years and board president the last two years, lost his bid for a sixth term in last week’s election and former board member Martin Abschutz did not seek re-election to the panel.
   According to the unofficial April 27 election results, Mr. Del Piano led the voting with 1,822 votes followed by Mr. Patel with 1,560 and then Arthur Robinson with 1,555 votes.
   Voters also passed the district’s $134 million budget by a vote of 2,161 to 1,546, according to the results. Mr. Robinson, who is beginning his second, three-year term, thanked the community for supporting the budget and for re-electing him to the board.
   He also recognized Dr. Speesler and Mr. Abschutz for their years of service and leadership to the board, and welcomed newcomers Mr. Patel and Mr. Del Piano.
   ”I would like to take this opportunity to thank the South Brunswick community for putting trust on me and electing me for a brand new board member,” Mr. Patel said.
   He also thanked residents for passing the budget.
   Mr. Del Piano thanked residents for their “support and confidence” in him.
   ”Going forward I will do the best to preserve the excellence we have in South Brunswick and hopefully help us to continue to improve,” Mr. Del Piano said.
   During Monday’s reorganization meeting, Dr. Stephen Parker was elected board president, and Deborah Taylor was elected as the new vice president.
   Dr. Parker was nominated for the presidency by Ms. Taylor and was unanimously elected by a vote of 6-0, with board members Elizabeth Chang, Harry Delgado, and Barry Nathanson absent from that vote.
   ”(Dr. Parker) portrays a professional demeanor which is calm and precise,” Ms. Taylor said in her nomination presentation. “He is thorough and pays attention to detail when approaching board business.”
   She also said Dr. Parker was on the board for five years, including two years on the Budget Committee and one year as vice president.
   ”I would like to thank the board for their confidence in my leadership,” Dr. Parker said after being elected to lead the panel.
   He also said the board is “united in its desire” to bring the best education to the children of the township.
   ”I’m sure there will be times in which we disagree on particular issues but I want to assure you that my pledge is that we will hear all sides of the issues before we make any decisions,” Dr. Parker said.
   Dr. Parker also thanked the community for its support of the 2011 budget.
   He said that one reason he moved to the township with his family is because of the township’s support of education.
   ”The education of our children is in my opinion a task of highest priority. They are the future of this community, this state, this country, this planet,” Dr. Parker said. “They are our future leaders, scientists, doctors, engineers, problem solvers, artists and musicians and it is our responsibility to provide them with a solid foundation to ensure that they have every opportunity to succeed.”
   Ms. Taylor was nominated as vice president by board member Daniel Boyle, and was elected by a vote of 7-0, with Mr. Delgado and Mr. Nathanson absent for the vote.