The most congenial and yet the most determined people you would ever want to meet – that’s how Superintendent of Schools Steve Cochrane described school board members Bill Hare and Greg Stankiewicz as they attended their last school board meeting on Dec. 17.
Their colleagues on the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education carved out time at the members’ final school board meeting of the year to acknowledge and pay tribute to Hare and Stankiewicz, whose terms expire at the end of the year.
Stankiewicz lost his bid for reelection to a second three-year term, while Hare decided not to seek election to a second term. Both men were elected to the school board in November 2016.
Board member Deb Bronfeld, who was elected with Hare and Stankiewicz and who was reelected to a second term, reminded the two outgoing school board members that they started their journey on the school board at the same time.
It has been a “really wild ride,” Bronfeld said.
“I really appreciate what you have done in your own way for the staff and what you have done for the students,” Bronfeld told Hare.
“I will miss sitting [at meetings] with you guys,” Bronfeld said to Hare and Stankiewicz.
School board member Betsy Baglio recalled her initial meeting with Hare, which occurred on the baseball field when he was coaching her son’s Little League team.
“You recognized me as a school board member and I recognized you as a school board candidate. We chatted about what it’s like to be on the school board,” Baglio said. “For the last three years, you have asked the right questions and you kept us laughing. We will miss your good humor.”
Cochrane, the schools superintendent, remarked on Hare’s “aw shucks” approach to issues, yet he also displayed a “dogged determination” to find creative ways to save money and also advance the mission of the school district.
Poking fun at himself and his creative writing abilities, Hare read a poem about his experiences on the school board – from his lack of in-depth knowledge about the school board and how it works, to the proposed $140 million bond referendum that was whittled down to $29.5 million.
There are still some unresolved issues, he said, pointing to the academic achievement gap between white students and minorities, as well as the budget challenges and stress reduction for students.
That’s up to the old school board members and the new ones to figure out, Hare said.
“Bill, it has been a pleasure. We are going to miss you,” school board President Beth Behrend said.
Turning to Stankiewicz, Behrend said it had been a privilege and an honor to serve in a leadership position with him. Stankiewicz was the school board vice president.
“We had quite a ride. I couldn’t wish for a more kind, thoughtful, supportive, intelligent partner,” Behrend said.
“With your passion for public school education policy, you kept us focused on the ‘big picture’ issues like state funding that can truly move the dial for the Princeton Public Schools,” she said.
“You reminded us that we are not alone. Other districts are facing similar challenges. We have to advocate not only at the local level, but at the state level,” she said.
Behrend praised Stankiewicz for helping to forge strong relationships with the Princeton Council, the Princeton Planning Board and other local institutions – efforts that were also praised by school board member Jessica Deutsch.
“Greg really defines and embodies the best kind of collaboration. We are a much better school board because of you,” Deutsch told Stankiewicz.
School board member Brian MacDonald described Stankiewicz as “an incredibly good, decent, hard-working person.”
“You were willing to answer my questions and give me a pep talk. Greg lives a life of joy and purpose,” MacDonald said. It was a reference to the Princeton Public Schools’ mission statement, which is to prepare students “to lead lives of joy and purpose.”
Cochrane said Stankiewicz was the “moral center” of the school board.
Cochrane said he was “amazed” at Stankiewicz’s ability to delve into details and yet to be able to step back and look at the big picture.
Former school board members Andrea Spalla and Dafna Kendal also praised Hare and Stankiewicz.
Spalla lamented Stankiewicz’s departure from the school board because “it is a terrible loss to the district and the school board.”
“I know it’s hard and there is a lot of work. It is hard in a way for anyone to understand” unless they have served on the school board, Spalla said.
Kendal said Hare was generally quiet, but if he saw something that would benefit the students, “he could be quite persistent.”
Kendal, whose term overlapped with Hare’s term, said she was proud to call him a friend. The school district, the students and the community are better because of his “thoughtful, level-headed service,” she said.
Stankiewicz thanked all of his supporters. Having had the honor of being on the school board, “there is no nobler cause” than working for the students, he said.
“I learned so much from each and every one of you. Steve, you made us a better board,” he told Cochrane.