By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY Christine N. Abrahams, the Board of Education vice president, unexpectedly resigned on Feb. 12, just a little more than halfway into her first term.
Ms. Abrahams said she could no longer make the time commitment due to the rigid early morning hours of her designated subcommittees.
As a full-time administrator in the Hopewell Valley Regional District, Ms. Abrahams’ explained her 9-5 day job made it virtually impossible for her to attend the majority of the meetings that are held as early as 8 a.m.
”It made it impossible for me to attend,” said Ms. Abrahams in a Feb. 13 email. “I was very sad to resign, but felt that I had no choice because I couldn’t contribute, which became very frustrating.”
The former board vice president served on six committees: Assessment, Curriculum and Instruction (ACI), Policy, a Negotiations alternate, a Somerset County School Boards Association delegate and as a Legislative and Municipal Alliance representative.
She said the only committee she could fully commit to was ACI and the only place she was able to really participate were the meetings to pick the new superintendent both held in the evenings.
Ms. Abrahams has been grappling with her decision for some time and said she made several attempts to get the subcommittee times amended to allow more flexibility. She said she even suggested to meet at 6 a.m. or on weekends, but the board never took up her offer.
Despite hearing rumors the schedule would change, nothing ever happened, causing Ms. Abrahams to continually voice her displeasure.
”What saddens me is that I have a lot of experience in education and I think I could have made a difference, but I was unable to break what seems to be a long-standing tradition,” said Ms. Abrahams. “Because of the inflexibility of the meeting times, the board becomes an exclusive domain of folks who hold certain or no jobs.”
In the email, she elaborated that the majority of the board members are either stay-at-home moms, executives who have a lot of flexibility, people who own their own businesses or university professors who can rearrange their schedules.
Had she known the hours of the meetings, Ms. Abrahams added she would have never run for the board.
Her public resignation might have been a shock to some, but others knew the board would soon have a vacant seat. Ms. Abrahams said she informed Board President Arun Rimal, Superintendent Nancy Gartenberg and Business Administrator Tom Venanzi.
Board member Adelle Kirk-Csontos confirmed Ms. Abrahams was “very up front and candid that the schedule was challenging.
”I wasn’t shocked, but I was disappointed because I truly think Christine really provided a great perspective to the board as someone who was truly immersed in public education,” added Ms. Kirk-Csontos on Feb. 13. “But when she does a job, she wants to do it 100 percent and I knew she had time challenges.”
The board is now tasked with filling Ms. Abrahams vacancy within 65 days. The open slot is free game for all eligible residents and interested individuals will be asked to send a letter of interest and resume to the board, however Mr. Venanzi said a deadline has not yet been set.
The board will conduct public interviews with the candidates, deliberate in closed session and the publicly vote on the most qualified candidate. Mr. Venanzi said if the board is unable to pick the candidate within 65 days, the decision would be left up to the executive county superintendent.
”But I think we will be within that timeframe as long as people apply for the vacancy,” added Mr. Venanzi. In the best case scenario, he estimated there would be new board member by the end of March.
The selected individual will serve until the November election and would have to run again if he or she wanted to retain the seat.
One person who won’t be applying is Belle Mead resident Jeffrey Grant, who ran and lost in last year’s April school board election. Princeton Packet reached out to Mr. Grant on Feb. 13 to ask if he was considering trying again, but on Feb. 14 he said he now had other commitments with the Somerset County Energy Council.
”My world has changed and I could not readjust my schedule to take on the responsibility,” said Mr. Grant. “I’d love to do it and I’m upset I can’t help out and pitch in.”
The board will also have to elect a new vice president. When asked if she would be up to the task if elected, Ms. Kirk-Csontos appeared ready and willing.
”I would be honored to fill that seat for sure and be happy to serve that role,” said Ms. Kirk-Csontos. “Other than Andrea and Arun, I have the longest tenure and it takes time to learn all the intricacies of the board I have five years under my belt.”
