About the Board
Committees and Liaisons
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Charlie Tuma - Chair
Kenneth Hallenbeck
Nat Krishnamurti
Puja Desai - alternate -
Kenneth Hallenbeck - Chair
Vince Carpentier
Megan Smith
Puja Desai - alternate -
Terri Joyce - Chair
Nat Krishnamurti
Charlie Tuma
Vince Carpentier - alternate -
Puja Desai - Chair
Nat Krishnamurti
Megan Smith
Vince Carpentier - alternate -
Bob Maider - Chair
Bindu Shah
Charlie Tuma
Vince Carpentier - alternate -
Vince Carpentier - Chair
Nat Krishnamurti
Charlie Tuma -
Somerville Liaison/Board Member - Bindu Shah
Somerset County Educational Services Commission - Vince Carpentier
N.J.S.B.A. /S.C.S.B.A. Representative - Megan Smith
Branchburg Township Liaison - Charlie Tuma
Parent Teacher Organization - Bon Maider
Branchburg Education Foundation - Nat Krishnamurti
Branchburg SEPAG - Special Education Advisory Group - Vince Carpentier
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Board of Education Goals
2023 - 2024Goal Area 1: Fiscal & Financial Health
- Work with administration to develop a plan for fiscally supporting the implementation of long range facilities plan projects.
- Engage in professional development in the areas of finance with a special focus on the referendum process.
- 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
- Work with administration to improve board operations by:
- 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;
- ensuring consistent use of district internal information repository (Google Apps) to share board information;
- educating board members on the committee process including roles and responsibilities and sharing of agendas and minutes
- Complete the superintendent evaluation and board self evaluation process in a timely manner with 100% participation.
- Negotiate contract with Principals and Assistant Principals Association.
Goal Area 3: Board Relations
- Form New Board Member Orientation ad hoc committee to create a process for welcoming and training new board members.
- Engage in professional development focusing on diversity, bias and equity.
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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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer.
- I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties.
- 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.