Wall BOE Waiting For Response From Write-In Candidate Betsy Cross

WALL, NJ — With the Wall Board of Education reorganization meeting less than a week away, only one of the two names voters picked as write-in candidates has been confirmed for the next term.

Current board member Christine Steitz has said she will continue to serve, but Betsy Cross, who had the highest number of write-in votes, has not responded to multiple emails sent by the board, according to board president Ralph Addonizio.

Patch has also reached out to Cross and has not gotten a response about whether she plans to serve on the board.

The Coast Star reported that Cross said decided she will not join the Board of Education because of current litigation between the two parties. A frequent presence in meetings, Cross has long been a harsh critic of the board.

She has condemned the board specifically for failing or taking too long to respond to her emails and requests for information.

“I can’t [sit] with any current and future lawsuits,” she told the publication.

Steitz, whose name was not on the ballot, will serve another term on the board.

"The past two years have certainly presented challenges and I recognize we continue to have very serious work to accomplish," she told the board, according to documents released under an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request. "I will continue to serve on the BOE with the hope of achieving continued progress for our students and staff, as well as our community."

Documents also show that the board secretary and business administrator Brian Smyth emailed Cross on Nov. 23 informing her of the election results and of the process necessary to fulfill the legal requirements to accept the seat.

Follow-up emails were sent on Nov. 24 and on Dec. 9, with no response from Cross. The fourth email on Dec. 17 said that the Dec. 15 deadline for her background check had passed and laid down the steps she could take to be able to serve on the board.

Cross, who has repeatedly criticized Smyth and the board for not answering questions or responding to her emails, has not replied to any of those emails.

READ MORE: Betsy Cross, Christine Lang-Steitz Top Wall BOE Write-In Votes

READ MORE: Wall Alumni Recall Culture Of Harassment Amid Hazing Probe

If Cross does not accept her seat, that position will be filled by the board of education interviewing people who apply for the vacant seat or by the Monmouth County Executive Superintendent, according to Addonizio.

Since the election in November, board member Russell Gartz announced his resignation during a meeting, leaving a fourth seat open.

Here is the Board of Education Election election result:

Adam Nasr - 6,274
Write-in - 1,977

With the write-in votes these were the top two candidates:

Betsy Cross - 565
Christine Lang-Steitz - 340

The Wall Board of Education reorganization meeting will be next Tuesday at the Wall High School Cafeteria at 6:15 p.m.

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