Board members tap Lawson as president

One incumbent resigned and four newly elected members were officially sworn in at the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education reorganization meeting on April 27 in Englishtown.

Joining the board are Bill Bruno of Howell, Barry Hochberg of Marlboro, Heshy Moses of Freehold Borough and Jennifer Sutera of Manalapan. All four were elected to the board in the April 21 school election.

Bruno, Moses and Sutera were elected to three-year terms. Hochberg was elected to complete a two-year unexpired term.

During the public portion of the meeting, several residents spoke out.

"Every town representative has my utmost respect for volunteering their time," said Manalapan resident Gloria Close. "We want to see change, now, and I hope you can accomplish that."

"The public has spoken," said Butch Budai of Manalapan. "This election is because of [Superintendent of Schools] Mr. [James] Wasser. En masse, we have high hopes for these towns after a very disappointing year."

"This is a day of change," said Robert Nicastro of Howell, who ran for a seat on the board but lost to Bruno. "This wasn't about Mr. Wasser — it's about taxes, fiscal responsibility and transparency. What this election wanted was a referendum on change."

At the close of the meeting, board member Diana Cappiello, who represents Englishtown, announced her resignation from the board, citing undisclosed personal reasons.

The board has 65 days to appoint a replacement for Cappiello, after which the Monmouth County superintendent of schools may make an appointment for the one year remaining on Cappiello's term.

In addition to the installation of new members, the board members elected a president and vice president, and named the board's attorney for the coming year.

In the running for board president was Moses, who was nominated by Sutera, and Ronald G. Lawson of Howell, who was nominated by Kathie Lavin of Farmingdale.

Lawson won the position, with Bruno, Tom Caiazza of Freehold Township, Cappiello, Lavin, Chris Placitella of Colts Neck and Lawson himself voting in his favor.

Moses received votes from himself, Hochberg and Sutera.

Cappiello nominated Placitella for the office of vice president and he secured the position unanimously since no one else was nominated.

The board appointed the firm of Schwartz, Simon, Edelstein, Celso, and Kessler LLP as board attorney. Voting no were Hochberg, Moses and Sutera, who wished to revisit the appointment after being presented with more options.

The three new members also did not vote to approve staff appointments until more salary information was provided and said they would continue to abstain their votes from issues that are not thoroughly explained.