PLUMSTED — The search for a new member of the Plumsted Township School District Board of Education came to an end on Jan. 25 when Leslie Septor was selected to fill a vacancy on the panel.

The seat on the board opened when board member Herb Marinari was chosen to fill a vacancy on the Plumsted Township Committee. An individual may not serve on both public bodies at the same time.

Board members made the decision to tap Septor for the position. The other residents who applied for the appointment were Timothy Hagar, Patrick Pecora and Albert Petroni III.

“Everyone on the board is glad she [Septor] is on board, and we are looking forward to working with her,” board President Harry Miller said.

Septor teaches language arts to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade pupils in the Trenton public school district. Miller said Septor’s previous experience as president of the Lakehurst Board of Education was also a factor in the board members’ decision to name her to the panel.

According to Miller, Septor’s personal investment in the school district was important to the board as well.

“We looked at her previous experience [on a school board], as well as the fact that she has four children in the district,” Miller told the Tri-Town News. “She has four children across various age groups, so she has a pulse on what’s really going on in the district.”

Septor said she decided to apply for the open seat and believed her personality “would be a great fit on the board.”

“I was fairly confident that my experience would be a good fit. I feel I can listen to all sides of an issue and be fair. Now that I’ve settled into Plumsted, I kind of missed [serving on a school board] and figured I would get back into it again,” said Septor, who served on the board in Lakehurst from 1999 to 2005.

Septor said she hopes to represent the interests of teachers, students and residents equally.

“[I hope to create] a balanced budget without [causing] the students to lose out, while still being fair to the residents. The key thing is making sure the students continue getting a good education,” Septor said.

Septor said that as a teacher, she hopes to create a “harmony” between the board and the school faculties.

“Being a teacher, I can see a different perspective than I did four or five years ago,” she said. “I am excited to see what direction we can take the district in. I am excited about getting involved in the school district and I look forward to working with the board to continue moving forward.”