Woodbridge board elects Sue Bourdin as president, names vice president; two vacancies to be filled at special June 17 meeting

The Woodbridge Township Board of Education elected Sue Bourdin its president and Jonathan Trebwasser its vice president at the June 12 meeting, and announced two upcoming vacancies that the board will fill at a special meeting June 17.

The board voted by roll call to elect Bourdin as president after a nomination from a fellow board member. The motion to elect Bourdin passed with members recorded as voting “Yes.” The board followed with a roll-call vote electing Jonathan Trebwasser as vice president.

The results came during the board’s reorganization portion of the meeting, which included publication and notice in accordance with the New Jersey open public meetings law. The meeting record shows the board accepted nominations, closed nominations, and then proceeded to roll-call voting on both offices.

Separately, two sitting members confirmed that they will leave their seats. Dan Harris, described in the meeting as having already taken a council seat, was present and acknowledged his prior resignation from the board. A board member identified as Joe Velez announced he would resign effective at the end of the meeting and said he will not run for re-election in November. Velez said he was resigning to allow a smoother transition for incoming members and noted his nine-and-a-half years of service.

Board attorney Matthew Bush (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Bush) formally announced there are two vacancies and that the board must fill them within 65 days. The business office had already advertised for two vacancies; the board scheduled a special meeting for Tuesday, June 17, “the sole purpose of which [is] to find two replacements,” the attorney said. Applicants will be considered at that meeting and selected to serve the remainder of the applicable terms.

The board also approved multiple consent and committee recommendations during the meeting — including the superintendent’s 43-item agenda and numerous committee items — with several members abstaining on specific numbered items where conflicts were cited. Those votes were handled by roll call during each committee report and approval.

What happens next: the board will hold the advertised special meeting on June 17 to review applicants and appoint two interim members to fill the vacancies until the next applicable election or the end of the terms, per board bylaws and the legal timetable announced by counsel.