The West New York Board of Education unanimously elected (9-0) Trustee Jonathan Castaneda to serve as their new president at last night’s meeting.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Castaneda had been serving as board vice president under Adam Parkinson, the president since 2016, though he stepped down at their last meeting along with Trustee Marielka Diaz since they are running as town commissioners on Albio Sires’ ticket in the non-partisan May 9th municipal elections.
“Extremely humbled to have been unanimously elected Board President for our #WNYSchools tonight. As a proud product of Memorial High School, Public School #4, and West New York School District, I am excited to lead the school district that along with my parents, made me the man I am today,” Castaneda wrote on social media last night.
“It is especially symbolic that the leadership of our school district, including our 8,100+ students, 1,200 educators, over 300 support staff – go from a friend and #MemorialHighSchoolAlum in Adam Parkinson to a fellow #MHSTiger. A big thank you to everyone – family, friends, and staff (and the West New York Education Association) – who came out to support tonight and congratulations to our new Board Trustees.”
Also the West New York special projects manager and the chair of the local Democratic committee, Castaneda was first elected to the BOE in 2015.
At the same reorganization meeting, Trustee Ruben Mendoza was unanimously elected (9-0) to serve as board vice president, while the four candidates who ran under the Sires-backed “Your Children’s Future” ticket were sworn in.
Trustees Sandra Pfeil and Aylen Jover, who were appointed in recent months, ran alongside Police Lt. Henry Codina and were all elected three-year terms on April 25th.
Their other running mate, Trustee Stephanie Gonzalez, was elected to a one-year term.
 Trustee Jonathan Castaneda to serve as their new president at last night's meeting.){kind=link}