Hawthorne Board of Education swears in trustees, elects officers and adopts organizational resolutions

Hawthorne Board of Education members were sworn in, chose leadership and approved a package of organizational resolutions at the district’s Jan. 7, 2025 reorganization meeting.

The board administered the oath of office to newly elected trustees following certification of election returns by Danielle Ireland, Passaic County Clerk, who provided the official results from the Nov. 8, 2024 school election. The board then moved to elect officers for the coming year.

In a roll-call vote, the board elected Marco Totoro as president. One member recorded an abstention during the president’s vote. The board also elected a vice president, identified in the meeting by the first name Eric; one member recorded an abstention on that vote as well.

The board adopted the Code of Ethics for School Board Members in accordance with New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA) 18A:12-24.1 for the period Jan. 7, 2025, through Jan. 6, 2026. The code, read aloud at the meeting, affirms obligations such as upholding state and federal law, making decisions in the educational welfare of children and referring complaints through the chain of command before raising them at public meetings.

Board members approved a slate of routine organizational resolutions and appointments—listed on the meeting agenda as R7 through R49—including the 2025–26 school calendar, designation of official newspapers, bank depositories, appointment of legal counsel (Togarty & Harrah, Esquire), appointment of medical and safety designees, reappointment of representatives to regional service groups, adoption of bylaws and policies, and approvals related to purchasing, insurance and internal controls. On behalf of the committee, a motion to adopt the resolutions as presented was made and seconded; a roll-call vote approved the omnibus motion.

The omnibus motion covered multiple administrative appointments and program designations spelled out in the agenda: appointments such as the asbestos management officer/coordinator, safety and health designee, indoor air quality designee, integrated pest management coordinator, AHERA coordinator, 504 coordinator and ADA officer; adoption or readoption of curriculum and district policy materials; and authorization of facsimile signatures for district warrants and checks (Columbia Bank). Where the agenda listed a specific outside firm or group, the board approved the item as presented (for example, continued representation with the Northeast Bergen County School Board Insurance Group and the Northern Regional Educational Services Commission).

During the public-comment period one resident, Paul of 54 Mawhinney Avenue, asked about donating several old musical instruments to the high school band. Paul said, “I just had a quick question ... I’d like to make another donation. Couple of old instruments I wanna give.” Board members and staff told him the instruments could be dropped off at the high school and that the board would record the donation and accept it formally at the next board meeting on Jan. 21, 2025.

Board members publicly thanked outgoing trustee Jay Shortway for three years of service and welcomed returning and newly seated trustees—Abby Goff, Jennifer Ehrintraut and Giselle Vega—before adjourning the reorganization meeting.

Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows (1) election of Marco Totoro as president (one abstention recorded), (2) election of a vice president identified as Eric (one abstention recorded), and (3) omnibus adoption of resolutions R6–R49 (adopted by roll-call vote). Specific roll-call names and individual yes/abstain votes are recorded in the official minutes.