By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
For the first time in recent memory, the four local school boards will hold their annual reorganization meetings in January.
School board elections in 2012 were held in November, instead of in April, as was the case for many years.
In early winter 2012, the school boards of Lambertville Public School, South Hunterdon Regional High School, Stockton Borough School and West Amwell Elementary School decided to hold their school district elections at the same time as the November general election, rather than in April.
A new state law permitted school boards to make the switch to November. Therefore, like municipal governing bodies, those boards that picked the November option now meet to reorganize in January.
According to a state education official, for school districts that remained with the April election cycle, nothing changed. These districts still operate on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year and voters still vote on school budgets.
For those who picked the November option, the budget vote was eliminated if the budget was under cap. However, such districts still operate on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal year.
Reorganization meetings will be held on Jan. 7 (Monday) as follows:
— 7 p.m. — South Hunterdon Regional High School, high school commons.
— 7 p.m. — Stockton Borough School, at the school.
— 7 p.m. — West Amwell Elementary School, meeting at Lambertville Public School.
— 7:30 p.m. — Lambertville Public School, LPS library.

