Two incumbent school board members will be joined by a newcomer when the Lawrence Township Public Schools Board of Education reorganizes in January.
Incumbent school board member Michele Bowes was the top vote-getter with 4,001 votes, followed by newcomer Diana Pasculli with 3,939 votes. Incumbent school board member Arundel Clarke received 3,745 votes.
Candidate Thomas Figueira earned 2,324 votes.
The term is for three years.
The vote tallies were certified by Mercer County officials and released Nov. 22. The certified vote tallies included early voting, mail-in ballots, Election Day voting and provisional ballots.
Bowes, Clarke and Pasculli ran as a slate of candidates on the “Students First” ticket.
Bowes will begin her fourth term on the school board when it reorganizes in January. She is the chair of the Mental Health and Guidance Committee, and also serves on the school board’s Curriculum and Instruction, Personnel and Equity committees.
Bowes said she was running for re-election because she wants to continue to build on the progress that has been made in the district. The schools play a critical role in a child’s future, and she is devoted to their success, she said.
Clarke, who was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the school board in 2022, was elected to his first full term. He is the chairman of the school board’s Equity Committee.
He said he was running for re-election to help continue building relationships within the district among the growing and diverse communities that have concerns about academic, inclusive and equitable growth in the best interests of the students.
Pasculli, who has a background in education, sought election to the school board so she could become more engaged in the education community and work with fellow board members, administrators, students, families and educators.
Pasculli said she had devoted her entire career to education – first as a middle school teacher and then working on statewide school laws and policies. Within each role, she has worked to improve the educational opportunities for all children.
