Lawson resigns from school board

Favoritism cited as longtime president loses reelection bid

Longtime Bayonne Board of Education President Will Lawson quit the board on Jan. 8, with one year left on his term.
A day earlier, the five newly elected members who had just been sworn in, along with sitting trustee Mikel Lawandy, chose not to reelect Lawson as president.
Though board member Ted Garelick introduced a vote for Lawson to retain his presidency, it failed by a 6-2 margin with Garelick and Lawson the only two voting yes. Joseph Broderick, Ava Finnerty, Christopher Munoz, Christopher Piechocki, Denis Wilbeck, and Lawandy voted no.
Wilbeck, who received an 8-0 vote to succeed Ava Mitchell as vice president, said the public was looking for different leadership and attitude, and that favoritism was a problem with the previous board.
“They forgot they were supposed to represent the city and community in which they live,” Wilbeck said. “Instead, they represented their relatives, family, and friends. Appointments and assignments went to those who were close to them.”
He said he would help to create more board transparency and make his email and cell phone number available.
“People will have an opportunity to speak and meet with me and other trustees,” he said.
Mitchell resigned her seat on Dec. 31.
“I know that the citizens want change, and we seem to be moving in that direction,” said Piechocki, who was appointed by Mayor James Davis to fill a vacancy and then was elected to remain on the board.
“Mr. Lawson did dedicate a lot of years to the children of Bayonne, and his experience will be sorely missed on the board,” Munoz said. “But we felt it was time for a change.”

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“People told me there was a need for change.” – Joseph Broderick
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Following the Lawson vote, Broderick was voted into the president’s post by a 6-2 margin. Broderick, Finnerty, Lawandy, Munoz, Piechocki, and Wilbeck voted in favor. Garelick and Lawson voted against.
“I believe the people spoke out loud and clear,” Munoz said in voting for Broderick. “I believe they want change.”
Lawson said he sought to be president again because he was concerned with the amount of time it takes to learn the post.
“The thing that is important is the experience needed for a job like this,” he said. “When I first came on, it took a few years to fully understand it.”
Broderick, a former Bayonne School District educator and administrator, received the most votes of any candidate in November’s school board elections, which was cited as one reason members voted for him for president.
Before retiring, Broderick worked in education for 45 years, including 35 years for the Bayonne Board of Education.
Broderick, who said he knew all the people at the table and looked forward to working with them, said he was motivated to run for the board because some were dissatisfied with it.
“People told me there was a need for change,” he said.
Munoz said the new board will work on better communication with teachers, parents, and the community; eliminating waste; settling the teachers’ contract; and returning the passing grade to 70 from 65.
Lawson’s and Mitchell’s board seats, with a year remaining on both, now need to be filled.
Board Secretary Dr. Gary Maita said submissions to fill the seats will be taken by him until until 1 p.m. on Jan. 27, and will be given to the board that week. Then the board will select two replacements at its public meeting on Feb. 24.
Board members Broderick, Finnerty, Munoz, Piechocki, and Wilbeck were the first elected members in about 35 years. The Bayonne district went back to an elected board after residents voted to approve the change in 2014.

Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.

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