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Branchburg Township School District

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About the Board

Board Members

13 Things School Board Members Wish People Knew About Them

 

The Board of Education is comprised of nine residents who volunteer their time to serve the children of the Branchburg Township School District without compensation.

Elected board members each serve a three-year term. Three members are elected annually in the general election in November. Newly elected board members begin their term at the annual reorganization meeting held during the first week in January.

Board meetings are held in the Large Board Conference Room at Branchburg Central Middle School. All members of the community are encouraged to attend the public portion of the meetings which usually begins at 7:30 pm (please check for exact times of each meeting). Agendas are posted on this website prior to the meeting.

Meetings are streamed live on YouTube and are available on the district website for later viewing.

  • Vince has resided in Branchburg since 2000, and he and his wife have a son at Whiton Elementary School.  He is a graduate of BCMS, Somerville High School, and has a BA Degree in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University.  Vince is also a volunteer on Branchburg’s Parks and Recreation and Youth Services Committees.  He has a passion for being active in the community and giving back to the town that he holds so dearly.

    Professionally, Vince has over ten years of work experience in the telecommunications sector.  He currently works as a software developer where he designs dashboards and tooling, and implements automation.  In his spare time, he enjoys watching and playing sports, running, his dog, and playing video games.

    As a member of the Board of Education, Vince is looking forward to working with the existing board to maintain the great standard of education Branchburg has grown accustomed to.

    Term Expires: 2027
    vcarpentier@branchburg.k12.nj.us

  • Bio coming soon.

    Term Expires: 2026
    pdesai@branchburg.k12.nj.us

     

  • Michael and his partner moved to Branchburg with their daughter in 2015 and are very happy to have settled into such a welcoming and vibrant community. Michael got involved with his neighborhood right away, helping elderly neighbors with garbage cans, mail collection, and snow removal. When it became known that the school district was dangerously low on good school bus drivers, Michael answered the call, training up and getting licensed. As a substitute he has driven every school route in the district (and much of Readington) he was driving right up until being sworn in.

    Now serving the community in a new way, Michael brings creativity and a unique perspective to the Board.  With a degree in Early Childhood Education and another in Industrial Design Technology, Michael has taught at many different levels and designed curricula for educational enrichment programs in science and the arts. Currently the Creative Director for a web development company, Michael has more than 20 years’ experience building digital and traditional marketing strategies, full-blown brand Identities and business growth plans.

    An avid motorcyclist and aspirational kayaker, Michael enjoys being in Branchburg because “it’s on the edge of everywhere”.

    Michael looks forward to working with the other Board Members and learning more about community service.


    Term Expires: 2029
    mblaustein@branchburg.k12.nj.us

  • Jeffrey has been a resident of Branchburg since 2020 with his wife, Leslie, and son, who is currently enrolled in the Branchburg schools. Jeff and his family love being a part of the Branchburg community. He has volunteered as a baseball and basketball coach, as well as at various school events.

    Jeff holds a BA in Communications from the University of Maryland, a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Montclair State University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. Jeffrey started his career as a classroom teacher in a nearby town, having taught both 5th grade and 6th grade science before moving into an administrative position. Since 2018, Jeff has served as his district’s Supervisor of Science and Engineering for grades K-8.

    As a member of the Board of Education, Jeffrey is looking forward to working with the existing board to support students in their successes, promote transparency in board decisions, and ensure safe and welcoming schools for all.


    Term Expires: 2029
    jcelebre@branchburg.k12.nj.us

  • Ken, his wife Ashley and his first born moved to Branchburg in 2018. Since then, he and his wife have had the pleasure of welcoming two additional children into their family; the oldest of his three children is currently attends Whiton Elementary School.

    He has a Masters in Labor Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (“IUP”) and has spent the majority of his career managing construction for various large corporate clients. Over the past several years he has specialized as an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) infrastructure expert. He is currently hired to assist a large multinational utility company in their effort to convert their fleet vehicles from ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles to EV (Electric Vehicle).

    As a parent of three young children who will all be attending Branchburg schools, Ken is personally invested in the long-term success of our educational system. Ken was appointed to the Branchburg Board of Education in April 2024 and looks forward to many years of serving the community in this role.

    Term Expires 2028
    khallenbeck@branchburg.k12.nj.us

  • Nat has lived in Branchburg with his wife, Anita, for over 21 years; yes, we chose the best town in NJ!  He has a 24 year-old son living in Philadelphia as a Paramedic (U Pitt grad); a 20 year-old daughter attending her third year at Harvard; and a 7th grade son attending Branchburg Central Middle School.

    He volunteers in many Branchburg community activities, including coaching basketball, football and soccer; Country Fair; and going under cover as needed (as the Grinch or the Easter Bunny) for various events.  For fun, he still plays indoor and outdoor basketball weekly with a great group of fellow Branchburg and non-Branchburg residents.

    Nat was recently a CFO of a publicly-traded company and has over 25 years of experience in Finance, Strategy, IT and HR in a variety of industries, including as an auditor with the New York City Board of Education.  He has an MBA in Finance and Accounting and is a CPA.  

    Nat and his wife love all kids and he is here to work with our community and the administration to help "inspire our children to learn, think, grow, and excel in life," as per our mission statement.

    Term Expires 2028
    nkrishnamurti@branchburg.k12.nj.us

  • Bobby has been a resident of Branchburg for 6 years with his wife, Alison, and two children.  He currently has a son at Stony Brook School and a daughter at BCMS.  Bobby volunteers in town as both a soccer and baseball coach.

    Bobby graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Communications and attained his J.D. from Seton Hall School of Law.  Bobby works as an attorney at his law firm in Nutley, New Jersey, where he is an active litigator and trial attorney.  He enjoys advocating for all of his clients.

    Bobby was elected to the Branchburg Board of Education in 2020 and looks forward to helping our school district continue to excel.

    Term Expires: 2027
    rmaider@branchburg.k12.nj.us

  • Megan has resided in Branchburg since 2005. She and her husband raise their three kids in the Branchburg/Somerville Districts. Her family is active in the community through recreational and travel sports, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other township activities.

    Professionally, Megan has over 27 years of experience in the healthcare software marketplace. She has held many roles, from Technical Support Advisor to Software Developer to Data Analyst. Megan is passionate about finding solutions for issues that arise and analyzing data. Megan enjoys playing in the Branchburg Women's Volleyball League, knitting, and baking.

    Megan looks forward to supporting the community as a Board of Education Member. She is invested in ensuring Branchburg schools are a great place for our children to get the best education possible.

    Term Expires 2028
    msmith1@branchburg.k12.nj.us

  • Charlie has been a resident of Branchburg for over 10 years and resides with his wife Mariane and 2 children. His son is currently a PhD candidate at NJIT and his daughter was a member of the class of 2024 at Somerville High School. Charlie holds a BS in Finance and an MS in Management Information Systems. He is currently a finance director for a FinTech company and has extensive experience in both the financial services and insurance industries. Charlie is also a current member of the Branchburg Township Parks, Recreation & Youth Services Committee and previously served on the Board of Education from 2018 to 2020. He sees great opportunities for synergies with his work on the Board and the recreation committees to serve the youths of our community and to provide them with top notch educational and recreational experiences.

    In his free time, Charlie enjoys sports, volunteering in the community and generally being outdoors. He is a strong advocate for parental rights and fiscal discipline.

    Charlie thanks the residents of Branchburg for the trust they have placed in him and looks forward to working with board members and district leadership to provide the best education possible for our children.

    Term Expires: 2027
    ctuma@branchburg.k12.nj.us

School Board Election - Candidate Information

Information has been updated for the November 2025 Election - Deadline for Nominating Petitions has Passed

Committees and Liaisons

  • TBA

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  • Vince Carpentier - Chair
    Nat Krishnamurti
    Charlie Tuma  

  • Somerville Liaison/Board Member - Megan Smith
    Somerset County Educational Services Commission - TBA
    N.J.S.B.A. /S.C.S.B.A. Representative - TBA​​​​​​​
    Branchburg Township Liaison - TBA​​​​​​​
    Parent Teacher Organization - TBA​​​​​​​
    Branchburg Education Foundation - TBA​​​​​​​
    Branchburg SEPAG - Special Education Advisory Group - TBA

  • Board of Education Goals
    2023 - 2024

    Goal Area 1: Fiscal & Financial Health

    1. Work with administration to develop a plan for fiscally supporting the implementation of long range facilities plan projects.
    2. Engage in professional development in the areas of finance with a special focus on the referendum process.
    3. Determine future use of Old York School property to provide a financial benefit to the school district while also serving the needs of the community.

    Goal Area 2: Board Operations

    1. Work with administration to improve board operations by:
      1. developing a board calendar of regular and committee meetings integrating the budget and superintendent evaluation processes and identifying regular items to be included in each;
      2. ensuring consistent use of district internal information repository (Google Apps) to share board information;
      3. educating board members on the committee process including roles and responsibilities and sharing of agendas and minutes
    2. Complete the superintendent evaluation and board self evaluation process in a timely manner with 100% participation.
    3. Negotiate contract with Principals and Assistant Principals Association.

    Goal Area 3: Board Relations

    1. Form New Board Member Orientation ad hoc committee to create a process for welcoming and training new board members.
    2. Engage in professional development focusing on diversity, bias and equity.

  • Code of Ethics for School Board Members

    18A:12-24.1

    A school board member shall abide by the following Code of Ethics for School Board Members:

    1. I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures.
    2. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing.
    3. I will confine my board action to policy making, planning, and appraisal, and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them.
    4. I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.
    5. I will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board.
    6. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends.
    7. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which, if disclosed, would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and, in concert with my fellow board members, interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school.
    8. I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer.
    9. I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties.
    10. I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution.