By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
As the school district begins to hand out candidate kits for potential members of the Board of Education, two of the three incumbents up for re-election are undecided and one will leave the dais in April.
"I unfortunately will not be seeking re-election," board member Elizabeth Chang said Tuesday night. "I learned a lot being on the board and it made me mature in many ways."
Ms. Chang, 20, won her seat on the board in 2009 while still attending South Brunswick High School as a senior.
Now a junior at New York University majoring in finance and accounting, Ms. Chang said that she would not run for re-election in order to have more time to concentrate on finishing her studies and preparing to enter the workforce.
Ms. Chang, members Barry Nathanson and Board President Dr. Stephen Parker are all up for election this April.
"I haven’t decided yet, but I’m leaning toward running," Dr. Parker said. The consideration is more on whether I have the time available to do the job right."
Dr. Parker said that serving on the board takes an average of at least 3-4 hours a week and that he wants to make sure he has that amount of time to give if he does run for another term.
"It takes time to do the job right," Dr. Parker said.
Mr. Nathanson said he is undecided if he will seek another three-year term on the board and that he is also waiting to see if the town or district decides to change the annual election from April to November.
Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation this week that allows municipalities to move the April school elections from April to the general election in November.
According to the new law, towns can change the election to November three different ways.
It could be placed on the ballot as a referendum question or it could be moved by a resolution from either the board or the Township Council.
If the election is moved, that community would also no longer vote on school budgets that equal or fall below the state’s mandated 2 percent cap.
Mr. Nathanson said he does not know if the town might change the election or what it would mean to this year’s race for the board if that were to happen.
The district is moving ahead as usual with releasing kits for potential candidates for the race, according to school officials.
Residents interested in running for one of the three seats can obtain a School Board Candidate Kit from the Board Secretary at the board’s office, 231 Black Horse Lane, during regular business hours, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, except when the district is closed due to inclement weather or school holidays.
The deadline to file the nominating petition is 4 p.m. Feb.27 and the election is scheduled for April 17, according to the district.
The School Board Candidate Kit is published by the New Jersey School Boards Association and includes information about the legal qualifications for candidacy, a candidate’s petition, campaign procedures and the role of a board member. It also includes information about the New Jersey School Ethics Act, important dates related to the school election process and other pertinent information related to the election.
Candidates must be able to read and write English, hold U.S. Citizenship, be registered to vote in South Brunswick Township and be a resident of the township for at least one year, have no interest in any contract or claim against the board and cannot hold office with the municipal government, according to the district.
For more information, contact Marcia Garitano Administrative Assistant to the Board Secretary, (732)297-7800, Ext. 3110 or [email protected].
