Board Decides to Move School Election to November

FLASH REPORT: In a split five-to-three vote at its work session this evening, the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education moved to push the April election for school board candidates from April to November and to correspondingly strip away the vote on the school budget from the local electorate.

Bridgewater-Raritan schools parent Beth Fieseler kicks off a
presentation of the schools' Redistricting Task Force on
Tuesday evening, a previously anticipated event which,
although well-received, was largely overshadowed by a
board discussion and action eliminating the public's vote
on the school budget.

Voting in favor of this move were board members Evan Lerner, Jeffrey Brookner, Ann Marie Mead, Lynne Hurley, and Daniel Petrozelli who was recently appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Anda Citroen. 

Those voting against eliminating the public’s ability to vote on the school ballot, and from moving the vote for school candidates from April to November were Jill Gladstone, Cindy Cullen, and Patrick Breslin.  Board member Dr. Arvind Mathur was absent, away on business.

Prior to the BR-BOE’s discussing and taking action on this matter, Mr. Lerner opened the meeting for public comment.  A majority of those who came to the microphone to express their opinion, including this writer, opposed eliminating the vote on the school budget, as well as the move to shift the election for school candidates to November.