After Not Being Re-Elected, School Board Member Is Appointed In Chester

CHESTER, NJ — A former incumbent Board of Education member who was not re-elected in November’s election was recently reappointed to Chester’s Board of Education.

Sara Kalashian has rejoined the board after a vote was taken on Jan. 18. The board voted 5-3 that Kalashian would take the seat vacated by Billy Webster at the end of his one-year term.

Superintendent of Schools Christina Van Woert told Patch in an email that Webster decided not to run again.

There were three seats open during the election, with newcomer candidates Sarah Schultz, Matthew R. Downs and John Barounis prevailing with 1,551, 1365 and 1,297 votes respectively. Kalashian had the fourth highest vote tally with 1,089, according to final results from the Morris County Clerk’s Office.

In an email to Patch, Kerri Wright — Board of Education president — explained that the board chose Kalashian after a series of interviews.

“We were delighted to have 10 highly qualified candidates submit their applications,” Wright said.

“As a previous BOE member, Mrs. Kalashian was well positioned to hit the ground running,” Wright said. “Her knowledge of how the school district and the BOE run, along with her subject area expertise on the Buildings and Grounds committee contributed to her appointment.”

“Given that the position is only for one year, a majority of the BOE determined that her previous experience and contributions to the BOE made her the most qualified candidate,” Wright added.

The first round of interviews with the 10 candidates took place during the Board of Education’s meeting on Dec. 14, Wright said. The board then decided at its reorganization meeting on Jan. 4, three would come back for final interviews on Jan. 18, including Matthew Fredericks and Adam Collichio.

Collichio received no votes and Matthew Fredericks received three, Van Woert said.

Board Member Candidate Found Appointment 'Troubling'

One of the 10 candidates, Carolyn Byszewski, submitted a letter to board members after they chose Kalashian. Byszewski emailed a copy of the letter to Patch.

She told board members their choice of Kalashian was “certainly not a proud moment.”

“While I have no resentment toward Sarah on a personal level, I do take exception to the underlying principle of this appointment,” Byszewski wrote.

She wrote that she found the appointment “troubling” after Kalashian was voted off, stating it “shows disrespect and overall disregard toward the wisdom and judgment of the Chester community.”

“For the board to clearly disregard the electorate’s majority preference that she no longer sit, should be a cause of concern to the community,” Byszewski said. “It also raises doubts as to the value of their votes in the school board elections, the integrity of the process and the motives of those that manipulate it.”

“It is most unfortunate for those who have never even submitted themselves to the voters for consideration to serve on this board would take cheap shots at someone who has already served and by running in this last election demonstrated her willingness to serve again, and received the support of several hundred of our fellow citizens,” Wright responded about Byszewski in her response to Patch.

“Like Theodore Roosevelt, I am partial not to the critics but to the person in the arena who strives valiantly to serve the public,” Wright said. “Those who are disappointed they were not selected are free to do as Mrs Kalashian has done, submit themselves to the voters for consideration in November and join us in public service.”

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.