SOUTH RIVER–With the Board of Education accepting two of its members’ resignations, the South River Public School District is seeking applicants to fill those two open seats.
The board accepted the resignations of Edward Andre and Regis Wyluda on Aug. 22. Superintendent Sylvia Zircher said both resignations are due to personal changes for the individuals which keep them from being able to complete their terms.
Zircher said the district has advertised the two vacancies and has been accepting resumes to replace both members immediately.
The deadline for receiving the resumes was on Sept. 9, according to a prepared statement. Zircher said the interviews will be conducted on Sept. 16, which will be the board’s next public meeting in the South River High School’s Media Center.
The successful candidates will be subject to a criminal history background check as required by law, according to a prepared statement.
Incumbents Raymond Baszak, Kevin Nielsen and Cynthia Urbanik will face off against newcomers Elizabeth Lell and Miguel Ribau for the three, three-year terms available during the general election on Nov. 5.
“The selected new board members will complete the leaving members’ terms unless they are running for election in November,” Zircher said.
Zircher said each of the two terms is for 18 months. The board will select and carry a resolution to accept the new members. This may happen as early as Sept. 16 or at a following public board meeting.
On Aug. 12, Zircher said the board, during a special meeting, interviewed and selected Lell to replace former Board Member Kelly Cruz, who resigned from her position in July.
In related news, board member and incumbent Kevin Nielsen made headlines in August for posting anti-Muslim comments on his Facebook page dating back to 2013.
When asked about Nielsen, Zircher said, “The South River School District promotes the interests and education of its diverse student body and population, regardless of religion, race, gender, orientation, or any other distinguishing characteristic. No individual board member speaks on behalf of the school district, and … the South River School District supports the interests and education of all its students.”
For more information, visit www.srivernj.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=328400&type=d&pREC_ID=618576.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
