Brogan Sworn in as President of New-Look BOE

The look of the Ridgewood school board is changing, though it’s not as drastic as one might imagine. 

Fresh off , Vince Loncto and Jim Morgan were sworn in as members during Monday night's reorganization meeting.

Morgan's wasted no time getting down to business, nominating long-time trustee Sheila Brogan as president. There were no objections, and Vince Loncto – who was appointed in November and won a three-year term over Gina Damasco – quickly followed with unanimous approval to become the vice president.

Brogan has served as board president in the past and won’t need much time getting up to speed – this marks her 17^th year on the Ridgewood Board of Education. She replaces Michele Lenhard,

"I follow in great footsteps," Brogan said. "Thank you, Michele, for leading the board the last two years and working so diligently for the district and the good of the students."

Morgan quickly suggested a few changes in his first day at 49 Cottage Place. He was able to push through a tabling of a resolution to re-hire the district's auditor, against the objections of Lenhard.

Morgan also lobbied that the board reconfigure its seating arrangement to have members face the audience, which Lenhard opposed. That discussion will continue in the upcoming weeks.

The board is also expected to discuss which committees members will serve on at its May 7 meeting.

Outgoing member Bob Hutton served with Sheila Brogan on the Negotiating Committee but with Hutton no longer on the board and Brogan now president, it seems possible an entirely new committee may emerge.

The expired last June and the ongoing discussions have drawn on both sides in recent months.