The Hunterdon Central Regional High School Board of Education on the night of its reorganization meeting swore in three new members, elected its 2025 leadership and adopted the New Jersey School Boards Association code of ethics.

Three new trustees — Jessica Rolfel of Delaware Township, Dr. Ellen Halpern of Flemington Borough and Leslie LaCosta of Readington Township — each took the oath of office for three-year terms. The oath referenced voter qualifications and disqualifications recited from state statutes, including N.J.S.A. 19:4-1 and N.J.S.A. 18A:12-1.

The board then held nominations and a secret ballot for board president. Lisa Santangelo was elected president by a 6-3 vote. Leslie LaCosta was elected vice president by the same margin. The board later moved and approved the New Jersey School Boards Association code of ethics as the district’s official code by unanimous roll call.

Why it matters: Reorganization establishes who will steer board policy, committee assignments and the public-facing governance agenda for the coming year. Adopting the NJ School Boards Association code of ethics formalizes expectations for conduct, confidentiality and decision-making by trustees.

What happened in detail: After the oath, trustees nominated candidates for president and were provided ballots. Board members’ votes were read into the record as the tally was counted; the chair announced Santangelo’s 6‑3 victory and LaCosta’s 6‑3 victory for vice president. The board then moved to adopt the standard organizational items and policies typically approved at a reorganization meeting; motions for items 1 through 8 were approved by roll call.

On the code of ethics motion, the board read the NJ School Boards Association document aloud, including provisions that board members “will uphold and enforce all laws, rules and regulations of the State Board of Education and court orders,” will act in the educational welfare of children, will confine board action to policy and planning rather than administration, and will refer complaints to the chief administrative officer. A motion to adopt the code passed on a roll-call vote with all trustees voting yes.

The newly elected president said she would circulate requests for committee preferences and availability to trustees that evening, and the board confirmed it will resume its regular meeting schedule; the superintendent noted the next regular meeting is Jan. 27.

Decisions and next steps: Leadership and governance policies are set for 2025; committee membership and specific assignments will be set after trustees respond to the president’s follow-up email. No additional substantive policy changes were enacted at the meeting.

Meeting context: The reorganization actions were taken at a public reorg meeting; votes and the unanimous adoption of the code are recorded on the meeting roll calls.