Two Appointed to Board of Education

The Wyckoff Board of Education welcomed two new members Monday who will fill seats vacated last month.

Residents Lisa Martone and Anthony Robert Francin took their oaths of office at the board's regular meeting at Eisenhower Middle School. Both were among nine residents who applied for board membership after members Matthew Cole and Carl Anello resigned in March.

Martone and Francin will serve for one year, with both seats opening up in 2011 for three-year terms. The newcomers were interviewed by board members last Thursday, and their appointments brings the board back to capacity membership, at seven members.

Martone, who has a child at Eisenhower Middle School, has spent her career in education at various levels. She has a science and mathematics background and was a classroom teacher and administrator while working at Ridgewood High School and within the Ramapo Indian Hills School District. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor at Monmouth University, supervising student teachers.

She also has been active as a volunteer in Wyckoff, formerly serving as president of the Lincoln School PTO and as chairperson of the PTO Coordinating Council, among other school district committees.

Martone decided to offer her services to the board after considering the challenges it was facing, with two resignations and the loss of three incumbents whose seats will be filled by two newcomers and a write-in candidate.

"I decided if I could offer my experience, it's something I felt compelled to do," she said.

She assumes membership at a time when the board faces "challenges at all levels," with the loss of state aid and prospect of tougher budgeting constraints from the state in the future. However, she's supportive of the work board members and administrators put into the proposed 2010-11 budget after learning the district would lose its entire aid package.

"As a taxpayer it's difficult to look at increasing taxes... but they have struck a balance and maintained core programs," she said. The plan cuts 10 positions and reduces capital expenditures while calling for an average $290 tax increase.

Martone said the challenges school districts face call for greater cooperation among the community at large.

"We have good people and a community that is very rich in resources with lots of talent. Everybody is in the same position," she said, saying that there are opportunities for the district, Township Committee, Municipal Alliance, PTOs and other interested stakeholders to work together to face those challenges.

"We can come together in some really great ways," she said.

Despite the loss of aid, Martone says the district remains "very efficient in how we deliver education," as its per pupil spending is below most neighboring districts while the students continue to excel compared to their peers.

Martone will receive board committee assignments after the April 20 election and subsequent reorganization. Although she would be particularly interested in the Education Committee, she said she would happily serve in whatever area the board believes is suitable.

Francin was unavailable for comment today. Check back with Patch on Wednesday for more information.

Martone and Francin join existing members Elizabeth DiGregorio and Thomas Giamanco on the board, which is losing President Dan Moynihan, Vice President Ray Hovey and member Danielle Swenson this year.

The three incumbents will be replaced by residents Catherine Runge and Jill Mortimer, who are on the April 20 ballot. The third seat will be filled by a write-in candidate.

At least two residents, Tom Rousseau and Diane Sobin, have publicly declared themselves candidates for the third seat on the ballot. Rousseau is a former board member and teacher while Sobin is a financial analyst and former Township Committee candidate who interviewed last week for one of the two appointed positions.