By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — The East Windsor Regional School District Board of Education on Monday appointed Pete Bussone to fill a vacant board seat, but may have another spot available soon.
Susan Lloyd, of Hightstown, resigned from the board as of June 30. She was re-elected for a fourth term in April 2011 and resigned during the second year of her fourth term due to “family reasons.” Mr. Bussone was appointed to that seat.
But board member Suzann Fallon also said that due to a “family situation,” she may not be able to finish her three-year term, which will stretch to nearly four years because the board voted to change its election to November instead of April, and current board members must stay on until the reorganization meeting Jan. 7.
Mr. Bussone’s appointment was effective immediately. He will serve until the board’s reorganization meeting. If he wants to stay on the board, he must run in the November election.
Board Vice President Kennedy Paul nominated Mr. Bussone to fill the vacant seat after the board interviewed three candidates, then held a closed session.
”We were very fortunate to have three strong candidates that were willing to take on this responsibility,” said Superintendent Edward Forsthoffer in an email Tuesday morning. “I believe the interview process was congenial and comprehensive.”
The board voted 7-0 to appoint Mr. Bussone, who immediately was sworn in by Kurt Stumbaugh, business administrator and board secretary, and took his place with fellow board members for the rest of the meeting.
Board President Robert Laverty noted there was recent legislation that requires the board to do background checks on members within 60 days of that person being appointed.
”We are the only elected officials in the State of New Jersey that are required to have a background check,” Mr. Laverty said.
Also interviewed for the open seat were Hightstown residents Kevin Brown and Janice Mastriano.
All candidates stressed they wanted to give back to their community.
”I always felt like I wanted to do something both associated with education and to help out my own community,” said Mr. Brown, who has been a resident for the last four years and a teacher at Peddie School.
Ms. Mastriano previously served on the board for nine years.
”I just basically really wanted to help; that’s why I’m here,” Ms. Mastriano said.
”I am looking forward to being able to give back to the community for the efforts that have been shown to my family,” Mr. Bussone said. “I thank you for this opportunity.”
He told The Herald later that, “I am extremely honored to be chosen for this position.”
Mr. Bussone has been a resident of Hightstown for the last 15 years.
”I currently have five children (attending school in the district); I am a father of eight,” Mr. Bussone said. “I pretty much run the gamut” with children who already have graduated from Hightstown High School to other children in various schools in the district — high school, Kreps and Rogers.
Mr. Bussone said he wanted to serve more than one term so he could use his more than 40 years of managerial experience, some of that as a small business owner. He also has served on the board of Better Beginnings in Hightstown.
”I am looking to give some of my past experiences,” Mr. Bussone said.
”Mr. Bussone’s previous community involvement was certainly one of his strengths, but it was not an easy decision for us, and any one of the candidates would have served the district well,” Mr. Laverty said in an email Tuesday morning.
He said it was the first time the board tried an open setting to interview candidates.
”I thought it went well,” he said in his email. “We have never done this in an open setting before. We were fortunate that our superintendent, Dr. Forsthoffer, was able to do some research around Mercer County and provide us with an approach that seemed to work well for us.”
At Monday’s meeting, Ms. Fallon thanked the candidates for coming and encouraged those who were not appointed to keep their interest since she may not be able to finish her term.
”As the other representative to Hightstown, I am very glad that we have three great candidates,” she said.
She added, “Because of my family situation, it’s questionable whether I will be able to fulfill my three-year commitment — almost four years by the time that I am done — so I hope that, perhaps, anyone who wasn’t selected tonight will consider continuing to be interested; you never know when it might open up.”
