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Nutley board names Lincoln School auditorium for 30-year member Charles W. Kaczynski Jr.
Summary
The Nutley Board of Education dedicated the Lincoln School auditorium to long-serving board member Charles W. Kaczynski Jr. at its June meeting and accepted routine academic and personnel resolutions by roll call.
The Nutley Board of Education on June 11 dedicated the Lincoln School auditorium to Charles W. Kaczynski Jr., a board member with 30 years of service to the Nutley Public School District.
Superintendent Kent Bania read a biography and called Kaczynski “the definition of a lifelong public servant,” tracing his service from an initial election in 1982 through multiple presidencies of the board. Bania said Kaczynski “was first elected to the Nutley Board of Education in 1982 and served until 1997. After a brief retirement, he returned in 2010 and has continued to serve to this day, a remarkable 30 year commitment to Nutley’s children, educators, and families.”
The ceremony included remarks from state and county officials, former legislators and local elected leaders. State Senator Brittany Timberlake said she would enter the dedication into the state record in Trenton and noted Kaczynski’s military service. “525600 minutes. How do you measure a year?” Timberlake said, quoting the musical Rent as she reflected on Kaczynski’s three decades of service.
Kaczynski, who described himself as “overwhelmed,” spoke about the demands of service and the importance of putting students first. “Until you serve in the trenches… you don’t know what it takes,” he said, adding that board work is not always popular but should benefit children and families.
Family members and longtime colleagues attended. Lorraine Kaczynski spoke briefly on behalf of the family and introduced relatives present. The board presented Kaczynski with a plaque to be installed at Lincoln School and a milestone award from the New Jersey School Boards Association recognizing 30 years of service.
The meeting also included a public-comment period in which several elected officials and community members — including former assemblymen Ralph Caputo and Fred Scalera, Essex County Superintendent of Schools Joe Zara, and representatives from the county board — praised Kaczynski’s long record of volunteerism and local engagement.
Votes at a glance
- Academic resolutions 1–3: Moved by Miss Danczyk Martin and approved by roll call (recorded as affirmative votes by Balsamo; Danczyk Martin; DeLeia; Gilberty; Kaczynski; Quirk; Scotti; Priaro). Outcome: approved.
- Personnel resolutions 1–2: Moved by Miss Quirk and approved by roll call with one recorded abstention (Mister Bridal). Outcome: approved (one abstention recorded).
The board closed the public-comment portion, approved the listed resolutions, then proceeded to unveil the plaque and the new sign outside the auditorium before refreshments in the cafeteria.
Notes and context
Charles W. Kaczynski Jr. is a Nutley native, U.S. Navy veteran and retired firefighter whose family has deep local ties; speakers referenced the family bakery and multiple generations attending Lincoln School. Superintendent Bania noted Kaczynski’s roles over decades, including seven terms as board president. During remarks board members quantified Kaczynski’s time on the board — one speaker offered a conservative estimate of 7,800 hours (about 468,000 minutes) of volunteer service over 30 years — and described him as a persistent advocate for students and staff.
No new policy changes or funding decisions tied to the dedication were presented during the ceremony. The subsequent academic and personnel resolutions were routine items presented to the board and approved by roll call.
