Schools
East Brunswick BOE Elects New Member In Special Meeting
At the start of the meeting, each candidate was given 1 minute to make an opening statement, before answering a list of questions.
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – The East Brunswick Board of Education on Monday elected Marianne Tanious as a new board member to fill the seat left vacant by Laurie Lachs who resigned recently.
Tanious was in the race along with three other candidates – Neal Shah, Tatiana Jordan, and Denise Contrino.
At the start of the meeting each candidate was give one minute to make an opening statement and then proceeded to answer questions posed by Assistant Superintendent Bernardo Giuliana.
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In her opening statement, Tanious emphasizes her commitment to the district's education, drawing from her experience as a PTA president and board member for nine years.
“I want to fulfill this role because I feel like it's a critical time in our district. I am an alumni, and I know the potential that this district has, and I would like to see that in the next 10 years, at least, we are able to carry out the same level of education that I received for not just my children, but all 8,100 students in this district,” Tanious said.
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"I serve currently as a PTA president. I have been on a PTA board for the last nine years. I'm able to see what the needs of our students are with the needs of our faculty is, and I hope to be able to bring those forward and share my experiences and listen to what the community would like to see happen as well. I'm willing to collaborate with our current board.”
Tanious also advocated for constructive dialogue and consensus, highlighting the importance of respectful debate and collaboration. She draws parallels from her pharmaceutical industry background, stressing that constructive criticism is essential for growth and avoiding complacency.
Tanious underscored her ability to lead diverse teams, emphasizing the need for collective goals and understanding diverse perspectives.
After the Q&A sessions with the candidates, Board members cast their nominations.
Wilbur Pan nominated Tanious. She received 5 votes with Contrino receiving 1.
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