By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
Two incumbents have won three-year terms on the Upper Freehold Regional School District Board of Education, but the winner of a third three-year seat has not yet been determined.
Incumbent board members Patricia Hogan and Tia McLaughlin, who are representatives of Upper Freehold Township, emerged as the winners of the two available seats from their community when the votes were tallied on election day, Nov. 8.
Running unopposed for three-year terms, Hogan received 2,221 votes and McLaughlin received 2,215 votes, according to results posted by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office.
Hogan and McLaughlin said they were honored to be able to continue serving on the board.
“I look forward to continuing to support the exceptional performance of the Upper Freehold Regional School District in preparing all our students to be high-performing global citizens,” Hogan said. “It has been my privilege to serve these past nine-and-a-half years. I am grateful for the opportunity the voters have given me to continue my service.”
“I am honored and humbled to be elected to serve another three years on the Upper Freehold Regional School District Board of Education,” McLaughlin said. “We really do live in a great town with great schools.
“As part of the board I hope to engage in open communication with the Millstone Township School District Board of Education as I feel much can be resolved when people are face to face and not behind screens.
“Increasing student achievement while supporting an environment which lets each student and teacher reach their maximum potential will continue to be my main areas of focus in the coming years,” McLaughlin said.
The remaining three-year term was for Allentown’s representative on the school board. No names appeared on the ballot in Allentown.
The seat was sought by Alicia Case and by Lara Michaud, who was appointed to the board in September to complete an unexpired term. Case and Michaud campaigned as write-in candidates for the new term that will begin in January.
After county officials reviewed every ballot, they determined that Case and Michaud each received 33 write-in votes. As of press time, school district administrators had not responded to inquires made by the Examiner as to how the winner of the Allentown seat will be determined.
According to Michaud, an official recount certification may take place, which could be followed by a special election.
Allentown and Upper Freehold Township are the member municipalities of the regional school district. The school board is made up of seven residents of Upper Freehold Township and two residents of Allentown.
Because Millstone Township residents of high school age attend Allentown High School in the regional district on a tuition basis, one member of the Millstone Township K-8 School District Board of Education sits on the regional board and votes on matters pertaining to the high school.