By Philp Sean Curran, Staff Writer
The Princeton School Board on Tuesday voted to keep Andrea Spalla as board president for a second year in a row, in what she said this week would be her last year on the board of education.
Ms. Spalla said Thursday that she would not seek re-election in 2016, as she completes her second, and now last, term. In an interview, she said she always had believed that two terms would be her limit.
“Change is healthy,” said Ms. Spalla, elected in 2010. “I think it’s time.”
Her decision not to run, coupled with the same decision by fellow board member and incumbent Molly Chrein, means there will be at least two new faces to run for and serve on the school board. In 2016, three seats will be up: the ones held by Ms. Spalla and Ms. Chrein and fellow incumbent Tom Hagedorn.
“I feel, for me, two terms is enough,” said Ms. Spalla in adding it was time “for me to move on to the next phase of my life.”
Ms. Spalla, 49, a native of Minnesota, joined the board in May 2010 at a time when her youngest son was a fourth grader. In a sign of how time passes quickly, she said he would be a high school sophomore when she gets off the school board.
During her tenure, Ms. Spalla has helped bring changes to the district, perhaps most notably with the hiring in 2013 of Stephen C. Cochrane to replace Judith A. Wilson as superintendent of schools.
Last year, she was part of the board team that reached a new contract with the teachers union after protracted negotiations.
In terms of what she does next, that will not include running for council, as she has ruled out that possibility.
As for the school board, officials at their reorganization meeting on Tuesday voted to keep Patrick Sullivan as vice president, the same role he filled last year.
Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Sullivan and board newcomers Dafna Kendal and Betsy Baglio took their oaths of office.
