New School Board Member To Fill Vacant Lacey Seat

LACEY, NJ — A new member joined the Lacey Township Board of Education, filling a seat left vacant after Harold "Skip" Peters stepped down in September.

Kerry Opitz was unanimously selected as the new board member following an interview at the latest Board of Education meeting. She was one of four candidates. Also running were former two-term board member Regina Discenza, Performing Arts Boosters Association Chairman John Sotelo and health care executive/adjunct professor Jennifer Kleinhans.

Opitz has lived in Lacey for almost of all her life with three children in the school district and has served as the treasure for the Mill Pond PTA and currently is the treasurer for the Cedar Creek PTA. Most of her work history is in financial roles and regulatory roles.

She emphasized that she had no political aspirations and wasn't applying for the job for name recognition.

"I'm just trying to protect the public education for our schools," Opitz said.

Her goals are to increase community trust with the board and to work on school funding. Opitz said she would work on communication and working as a cohesive team, particularly during controversial, divisive issues.

"I just want to contribute to making the schools thrive," Opitz said.

After an executive session, the board voted in favor of Opitz. She will go through a background check before being sworn in at the December Board of Education meeting.