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Board approves consent agenda and action items; trustee resignation to be filled by May election; superintendent search firm outlines process
Summary
Board adopted consent agenda and action items 1–14 by voice vote, accepted a resignation with counsel advising the board to allow the seat to be filled by election in May, and engaged McPherson & Jacobson to run a superintendent search with stakeholder interviews and multilingual surveys.
The East Ramapo Board approved the consent agenda and a slate of action items at the meeting; both motions carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies.
Consent and agenda items 1 through (not detailed) were moved by Mr. Weisman and seconded by Mr. Young Mercer; the motion carried after an "aye" voice vote. A subsequent motion to approve action items 1–14 was moved by Vice President McGill and seconded by Mr. Karth; the motion also carried by voice vote.
Trustee Eric Young Mercer submitted a resignation dated Feb. 23, 2025, which the board acknowledged. Board counsel and district legal counsel advised that, because of timing, the most practical and democratic means to fill the vacancy is to allow candidates to run in the May annual election; the successful candidate would serve the remainder of Young Mercer’s term. Counsel said the board must take action to fill the vacancy within 90 days but noted that adding the seat to the May ballot is typical and would avoid an interim appointment.
On the superintendent search, McPherson & Jacobson consultant Dr. Karen Devino described a multi-phase process that includes stakeholder interviews, multi-language surveys (English, Spanish, Yiddish as requested), student input if the board requests it, deep reference checks and background checks, video interviews of semifinalists, and board interviews of finalists. The firm said it will solicit community input on desired candidate characteristics and will work with the board to develop the advertisement and timeline. The district plans a friendly URL with search materials and a timeline on the district website.
Why it matters: The board’s adoption of consent and action items advances routine district business; the trustee vacancy and the superintendent search are governance items that will shape board composition and district leadership going forward.
The board recessed into executive session at the close of the public meeting to discuss personnel and potential litigation matters; no public action followed the session at this meeting.
