Hello readers, welcome back and Happy New Year!  

It has been quiet here at OurSchoolsRoxbury as we took some time off over the holidays. 

We wanted to be sure to update everyone in the new year regarding changes with our own BOE. Our last BOE meeting on January 4th. This meeting was a reorganization meeting where new BOE members were sworn in.   For those who watched or were present, it was lovely seeing each BOE member sworn in with their families.

Our new BOE members are Mirna Hernandez and Kim Hopkins. Kathy Purcell has been on the BOE since 2018 and won reelection.  Their term is for three years. 

Next the board determined this year’s president and vice president. Ms. MacGregor  nominated Chris Milde for president, and no other nominations were made. He will be the BOE president. 

Kathy Purcell nominated Anne Colucci for vice president, and she was voted to be this year’s vice president. 

Next the board members went over the Board Member Code of Ethics that each BOE member agrees to.  

 You can read the code of ethics below. 

 18A:12-24.1 Code of Ethics for School Board Members

A school board member shall abide by the following Code of Ethics for School Board Members:

a. I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, and court orders pertaining to schools.  Desired changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures.

b. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing.

c. I will confine my board action to policy making, planning, and appraisal, and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them.

d. I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.

e. I will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board.

f. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends.

g. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which, if disclosed, would needlessly injure individuals or the schools.  In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and, in concert with my fellow board members, interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school.

h. I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer.

i. I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties.

j. I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution.

L.2001,c.178,s.5.

—————————————————————-

The board then determined the chair and member of each committee. 

Community Relations/Shared Services 

• Chair –  Valerie Galdieri 
• Mirna Hernandez
• Sharon MacGregor
• Chris Milde 
• Edwin Botero

Education 

• Chair – Camilo Bonilla
• Anne Colucci
• Chris Milde 
• Kathy Purcell
• Carol Scheneck

Facilities 

• Chair – Anne Colucci
• Carol Scheneck
• Edwin Botero
• Valerie Galdieri
• Kathy Purcell

Finance 

• Chair – Carol Scheneck
• Edwin Botero
• Anne Colucci
• Valerie Galdieri
• Kathy Purcell

Personnel 

• Chair – Sharon MacGregor
• Anne Colucci
• Camilo Bonilla 
• Kim Hopkins
• Kathy Purcell

Policies/Governance 

• Chair – Chris Milde
• Camilo Bonilla
• Mirna Hernandez
• Sharon MacGregor
• Carol Scheneck

Negotiations 

• Chair – Kathy Purcell
• Anne Colucci
• Kim Hopkins
• Mirna Hernandez

Delegates 

Project Graduation Liaison – Sharon MacGregor

Town Council Liaison – Anne Colucci

District Sustainability Team – Valerie Galdieri and Kim Hopkins

NJSBA (New Jersey School Board Association)- Chris Milde, Alternates – Kathy Purcell and Mirna Hernandez

Morris County School Board Representative – Anne Colucci, Alternate – Kathy Purcell

Education Services for Morris County – Chris Milde

The next meeting is January 27, 2025 at 7:30pm at Lincoln Roosevelt Auditorium (34 N. Hillside Ave., Succasunna, NJ)

Meetings can also be livestreamed here.

Here at OurSchoolsRoxbury we are dedicated to empowering parents/guardians, families, students, and community members to protect quality public education for all students. We are focused on work at the local level but will be going over any federal changes that may impact our local schools as well. Stay tuned!