SECAUCUS – The Secaucus Board of Education planned a special meeting for Thursday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. to discuss personnel items and a public meeting at 5 p.m. to determine whether to move the school board election to November.
A new state law allows each district to make the decision to move elections. Holding the elections in November might increase voter turnout (where typically only 12 percent of registered voters cast ballots) and will save money, but some residents and school board members would like to keep the election in April, saying it will allow them to vote on the school budget. If it is moved to November, only budgets exceeding a certain increase will be on the ballot. Also, some say moving it to November will tie it to other elections.
Gov. Christopher Christie signed legislation into law on Jan. 17. The change can happen either by a school board resolution, a council resolution, or by asking for voters’ approval via referendum.
In closed session, the school board will receive an update on the outcome of meetings that have taken place between the Secaucus teachers’ union, the Board of Education, and the Superintendent of Schools Cynthia Randina. Several meetings were held over the last two weeks to address long-held tensions that erupted after the union took a vote of “no confidence” in the superintendent. Sources said that the meetings, which began with disagreements on who should attend, have recently been positive.