Casella Re-Appointed as Bedminster BOE President

Lou Casella was once again chosen as the board of education president when the board held its annual reorganization meeting Wednesday at Trump National Golf Club.

"I am asking residents and township workers to support us," he said. "We are looking at alternatives to maintain standards while keeping low taxes."

Board member Jeff Reaves was chosen as the vice president of the board of education.

At the meeting, the board of education swore in four members, based on the . All candidates ran unopposed in the elections.

For three-year terms, Reaves received 1,640 votes, Jennifer Cerra-Johansson received 1,348 votes and Brian Haggerty received 1,290 votes.

For a two-year term, Laura Malley received 1,936 votes.

Casella said that in the coming year, the board will face many challenges, including implementing new teacher evaluations and district testing, which is required by the state, but will be unfunded by the state's Department of Education.

"And there is a lot of technology that is not implemented yet," he said.

In addition, Casella said, the district is dealing with $400,000 in unexpected expenses, which brings the budget to its cap, and may result in cuts in the next school year.

"We will be looking at different alternatives and what we can do," he said.

But, Casella said, there have also been many triumphs heading into the new year, with a new superintendent and administration, as well as a tentative agreement with the teachers union.

"And our high school ranked one of the top in the state," he said. "Bedminster students continue to shine."

Casella also thanked the outgoing board members, as well as the school and township administration for its work throughout the year. He gave a special shout-out to John Mantz and others with the township Department of Public Works, thanking them for the work they have done in keeping the streets clear.

"We can't take any more snow days," Casella said with a laugh. "Everyone's going to school."

The first official board of education meeting of the year will be held Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bedminster Township School on Somerville Road.