Neptune Township Board appoints Howard West II to fill unexpired seat through Dec. 31, 2025

The Neptune Township Board of Education voted to appoint Howard West II to an unexpired term through Dec. 31, 2025, during its public meeting.

Board President Dela Sala explained the process that led to the appointment, saying the board had advertised the vacancy after it was announced on Jan. 24, received six letters of interest by the Feb. 17 deadline and held interviews in executive session on Feb. 24. "As president, I led the interviews, but I did not participate in the polling and will abstain from tonight's vote," Dela Sala said.

The appointment followed a nomination from board member Jones and a second from Hubbard. The board moved to close nominations and then approved a resolution appointing Howard West II to serve the remainder of the term through Dec. 31, 2025. West took the oath of office at the meeting.

Why it matters: The appointment fills a vacant seat on the Neptune Township Board of Education and adds the appointee's experience and perspective to the board as it addresses budget and program decisions this year.

Details and context

The board's president and staff described the vacancy timeline on the record: notice to the board on Jan. 24, public posting and advertising, a Feb. 17 deadline for letters of interest and executive-session interviews on Feb. 24. The president said the board used a straw poll in advance of the public appointment vote and that she would abstain from the final roll call.

Superintendent Dr. Crater used his report later in the meeting to highlight program and budget pressure facing the district. "We have experienced tremendous budget cuts over the past 6 years. We've lost $25,000,000 in state aid," Crater said, and noted the district has reduced some programs as a result. He described a previously offered summer music program that had to be cut and said the district would accept donations to help restore music opportunities.

Public comment at the meeting included a statement from parent Tara Samuels, who urged the board to replace the current girls' basketball coaches because she said the team lacked discipline and was not reaching its potential. "I think they should be removed," Samuels said, referencing two current coaches by name. Her comments were made during the public participation portion of the meeting and were not acted on by the board at that time.

The meeting also featured routine student-government remarks and a school showcase. A student, Owen Holman, delivered greetings on behalf of Summerfield Elementary School and chimes and choir students performed.

Votes at a glance

- Close nominations for the vacant seat: moved by Puryear; seconded by Diana Harris; outcome: approved (roll call recorded as ayes). - Appointment of Howard West II, unexpired term through 12/31/2025: moved by Puryear; seconded by Jones; outcome: approved (roll call recorded as ayes). - Superintendent's report (document A, items 1–4): moved by Harris; seconded by Hoffman; outcome: approved (roll call recorded as ayes). - Minutes and routine consent items (reorganization meeting, work session, regular meeting): moved and seconded as listed on the agenda; outcome: approved with recorded abstentions noted in the roll calls. - Finance items (document B1, items 1–6): moved by Jones; seconded by Hubbard; outcome: approved; the roll call included an abstention by Howard West II as recorded. - Education special projects (document C1): moved by Hoffman; seconded by Harris; outcome: approved; an abstention by Howard West II was recorded. - Special education items (document C2): moved and seconded on the record; outcome: approved with an abstention by Howard West II recorded. - Student activities (document C3, item 1): moved by West (on the board during the meeting); seconded by Puryear; outcome: approved. - Personnel items (document D1, items 1–17): moved by Jones; seconded by Hubbard; outcome: approved with an abstention by Howard West II recorded on the roll call. - Schedule of meetings (next meeting/training notice): moved by Puryear; seconded by Jones; outcome: approved.

The meeting record shows multiple routine consent motions were taken by roll call; the transcript records several instances of "Abstain" during roll calls, often with Howard West II recorded as abstaining shortly after his appointment. The board did not take any additional formal action on the coaching issue raised during public comment at this meeting.

Closing

The board closed the meeting after approving the agenda items and welcoming Howard West II. Members noted the next scheduled training on March 26 at 5:30 p.m. on the topic of declining enrollment.