By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
With 11 days left to file to seek one of five seats on the Lawrence Township Board of Education, two incumbent school board members and one newcomer have filed their nominating petitions.
Incumbent school board members Jo Ann Groeger and Thomas Patrick and newcomer Martin Hopkins have filed petitions. The remaining three incumbent members have indicated they want to seek re-election, but they have not yet filed to run in the April 17 school board election.
The deadline to file for the school board is Feb. 27. Prospective school board candidates can obtain a “School Board Candidates Kit” online at the New Jersey School Boards Association website at www.njsba.org.
Up for grabs are the seats held by Mr. Patrick, Murali Aiyar, Michael Brindle, Jo Ann Groeger and Kevin Van Hise. Mr. Brindle and Mr. Patrick were elected in 2009 for three-year terms that end in April.
Mr. Aiyar, Ms. Groeger and Mr. Van Hise were appointed last year to fill vacancies created by the resignations of board members Ginny Bigley, David Donahue and Robert Brackett.
Although Ms. Bigley’s term would have ended in 2014, Mr. Donahue’s term in 2013, and Mr. Bracket’s term this year, the three appointees’ terms end in April.
Mr. Patrick, who is seeking his third term on the school board, said he is running for re-election because “there is still a lot to accomplish.” Mr. Patrick pointed to financial issues.
”Budget challenges will always be there. We, as a district, must continually find ways to save money,” he said, pointing to several money-saving measures, such as installing solar panels on all of the school buildings, rearranging the school bus schedules and purchasing a few school buses.
”Part of the enjoyment of being on the school board is working with truly dedicated professionals. I have enjoyed the new blood on the school board this year. It is good to get a fresh perspective on things,” Mr. Patrick said.
Ms. Groeger she wants to continue to serve on the school board because “there are so many things to do and I didn’t realize it takes so much time” to accomplish them. She said she would like to see the community become more involved with the school district and work “hand in hand.”
”Also, I would love for the relationship between the staff, the school board and the administration continue to grow and to work together as a team,” said Ms. Groeger.
Mr. Hopkins said he is running for the school board because he is “very involved” with his children’s education. One child is enrolled at the Ben Franklin Elementary School and the other attends the Lawrence Intermediate School.
He, too, is concerned about financial issues. He said he is concerned about tax increases.
Mr. Hopkins also commented on the recent turnover among school board members, and said that “it would be nice to have fresh voices and different perspectives” on the board. He said he is willing to listen and take into account all points of view on the issues.
Mr. Aiyar, who was appointed to the school board in July, said he wants to run for the school board. He said there is still much more to be accomplished.
”There is a lot of work in progress,” Mr. Aiyar said. “I want to continue (to serve on the school board).”
Mr. Brindle is seeking his eighth term. He said there are things that he would like to see finished. He said he would like to continue to work with Superintendent of Schools Crystal Lovell, who was named to the top post upon the retirement of former Superintendent of Schools Philip Meara in September.
Mr. Van Hise said it has been “an enjoyable seven months” serving on the school board. He said he is running for the school board because “I like to think I can make a difference in some way.”

