Here Are All 7 Secaucus School Board Candidate Profiles

SECAUCUS, NJ — To make it easier for Secaucus residents, here are the profiles of all seven school board candidates this year.

Seven people are running for three seats on the school board. They are:

• Melissa Howard - "Advocate for Education." Currently on the Board, seeks re-election.
• Valerie Giraldo - "Community Winning Resolutions"
• Audry Yule - "Community Winning Resolutions"
• Tatiana Geller - "Excellence in Education"
• Gerald Lyons - "Excellence in Education"
• Jamie Fisher - "The People's Voice"
• Monica Berckes - "A Winning District"

There is a candidates' forum scheduled for Oct. 24 at the high school PAC, moderated by Secaucus Spectator publisher Don Evanson. Evanson says it will be recorded so people can watch later.

Patch will be there covering it and attempting to livestream it. All seven candidates say they plan to be there, as long as they do not have work conflicts.

We asked all seven candidates to introduce themselves to voters. We asked them what are the biggest issues facing the Secaucus public school district, and also how they would vote for re-districting (putting K-2 in Clarendon, and 3-5 in Huber Street), which the BOE said last year will be brought up again for consideration in 2025:

Meet Monica Berckes, Running For Secaucus School Board

Meet Tatiana Geller, Running For Secaucus School Board

Meet Valerie Giraldo, Running For Secaucus School Board

Meet Jamie Fisher, Running For Secaucus School Board

Meet Melissa Howard, Running For Secaucus School Board

Meet Audry Yule, Running For Secaucus School Board

Meet Gerry Lyons, Running For Secaucus School Board

On this topic: Secaucus Mayor Endorses Lyons, Geller, Howard For School Board (Sept. 13)

The election will be Nov. 5, but you can vote early in person at the Secaucus Rec Center from Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary. There is also mail-in voting.