MARLBORO – Robyn Wolfe has been re-elected president of the Marlboro K-8 School District Board of Education for 2019.
The board held its reorganization meeting on Jan. 8 at the district’s administration building, during which newcomer Kathleen Amster and re-elected board members Stephen Shifrinson and Wolfe were sworn in by Business Administrator/Board Secretary Cindy Barr-Rague to begin serving the three-year terms they won in the Nov. 6 election.
After Amster, Shifrinson and Wolfe were seated, nominations were made for the position of president.
Randy Heller nominated Wolfe and there were no other nominations. On a roll call, Vlad Goldfarb, Susan Shrem, Heller, Shifrinson and Wolfe voted “yes.” Amster and Dara Enny voted “no.” Robert Daniel was not present for the vote for president.
Regarding her “no” vote, Enny said, “I cannot vote for an NJEA (New Jersey Education Association) member to serve as president or vice president when they not only are an NJEA member, but also are union representatives for their schools. That is a major conflict of interest.
“Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean it’s right. I feel it is morally and fundamentally wrong for an NJEA member or a union representative to hold these positions. (In 2018), both the president and vice president could not be part of any important discussions, including negotiations and personnel issues, because they were conflicted. At least one, if not both of the board’s leadership should be part of every important decision and discussion,” Enny said.
Following the election of the president, Shrem nominated Heller to serve as vice president and there were no other nominations.
On a roll call, Daniel, Goldfarb, Heller, Shifrinson, Shrem and Wolfe voted “yes.” Amster and Enny voted “no.” Enny said the same reasons applied in her vote for the vice president.
After the president and vice president were elected, Wolfe offered remarks about the upcoming year, saying, “We are working on our first energy savings improvement plan. The district is working with Rutgers University’s behavioral health care and we have added additional behaviors.
“Our top priority continues to be our students’ and staff’s safety. One of the biggest hurdles school boards face is making choices that are beneficial to all involved – the students, educators, administrators, employees and taxpayers. As citizens and board members it is our responsibility to do what makes the most sense all around. We will continue to do the best we can.
“Each week after the meeting, I will continue to send out a feedback form to our board members. There is always room for improvement and as a board we can continue to work hard for the students, staff and community members. I look forward to continuing to play a part in the students’ education and being a part of something dedicated to student achievement,” Wolfe said.
Finally, the board members honored Ellen Xu, who concluded three years of service to the board in December.
