Ridgewood School Board Picks New President, Vice President

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A new Ridgewood school board president was tapped to take the helm at Monday's reorganization meeting.

Mike Lembo, elected to a three-year term by voters in 2020, will serve as chair of the village Board of Education, replacing former President Hyunju Kwak. He was unanimously approved by his board colleagues to take over the position.

"Thank you to all the trustees for your confidence in me," Lembo said at the meeting. "I look forward to working with all (of you) this coming year."

Lembo served as the vice president in 2022, and had previously been president in 2020-2021.

"We have a lot to do this year, and I am excited to get to that work," he said. "I am humbly taking this position (on account of) the voice of the board, but I want to reiterate that I am one person, one voice. It takes five of us to get anything done."

He thanked Kwak for her efforts as president this past year, and later congratulated her on her selection to vice president this year, a motion that was supported by all except for board member Sheila Brogan. Both Lembo and Kwak were nominated by board member Saurabh Dani.

Kwak, prior to voting 'yes' to approve Lembo to the position of president, acknowledged what she called the awkwardness of the reorganization.

"We are the same board with no new members," Kwak said. "But I want to be as peaceful as possible and do not want to disrupt the board when we have so much important work ahead of us."

None of the school board seats were up for grabs in the November election, as none of the members' terms were set to expire.

"My father always said, "Remember why you're here," Lembo said, in reference to his position on the board. "I'm not going to forget that."