The West New York Board of Education is preparing to appoint three new trustees next month as the district begins to get acclimated to having school board elections in April.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The Board may wish to hold a special meeting, or dedicate a regular meeting, in January 2021 to appoint Board members to fill these vacancies,” according to a memo obtained by HCV.
“This meeting may also be used to handle any other business impacted by the change in the election date and the resulting lack of a reorganization meeting in January 2021.”
On August 7th, 2019, the West New York Board of Commissioners unanimously approved (5-0) a measure to move their school board elections from November to April, which neighboring municipalities Weehawken and North Bergen already do.
The reason the appointments are necessary to accommodate this new schedule is because the terms of three trustees: Damarys Gonzalez, Maite Fernandez, and Jose Mendoza, all expire on December 31st of this year.
None of the current incumbents immediately returned inquiries on Wednesday asking if they would be seeking an appointment in 2021.
The memo also notes that any candidates interested in interviewing for the position must submit a resume and cover letter to the board secretary, who will then forward subsequent questions to each candidates that meets the necessary criteria.
Since there are nine trustees on the board, this appointment process that precedes the spring election must be repeated in both January 2022 and January 2023.
Trustees Jonathan Castaneda, the town business administrator, Adrienne Sires, the wife of U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8), and Joseph Rodriguez, the husband of Freeholder Caridad Rodriguez (D-7) see their terms expire on December 31st, 2021.
Additionally, on December 7th, Superintendent of Schools Clara Brito Herrera told parents in a letter that remote learning would extend through at least January 31st due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
