Nutley Board swears in three members; Sal Ferrero elected president, Tom DeLeah vice president

Nicholas Scotti, Daniel Fraginals and Steven Gilberty were sworn in as members of the Nutley Public School District Board of Education following certification of the Nov. 5, 2024 annual school election, board officials said. The board then elected Sal Ferrero as president and Tom DeLeah as vice president and approved routine organization items by roll call.

The board read the election results into the record: Nicholas Scotti, 7,295 votes; Daniel Fraginals, 6,238 votes; Steven Gilberty, 5,937 votes; and Joseph Battaglia, 4,736 votes. The chair called Nicholas Scotti, Daniel Fraginals and Steven Gilberty to the podium and the oath of office was administered.

“Congratulations,” the official administering the oath said after the new members completed the oath required for board members under state law. The board recorded the swearing-in as the formal assumption of office for the three elected members.

Following the swearing-in, the board appointed the board secretary as temporary chairperson to conduct the election of board officers. The assembly then opened nominations for board president; a motion to elect Sal Ferrero as president carried by roll call. The board voted unanimously in favor of Ferrero’s election (9 yes, 0 no). The motion read in part: “to elect Sal Ferrero as president of the Board of Education effective immediately until the next reorganization meeting as prescribed by law.”

Sal Ferrero, after being elected president, thanked members and outside officials for their support and described the coming year as challenging but manageable. “We’re gonna have a year with some challenges, but we’re gonna…we’re gonna persevere through those challenges,” Ferrero said, adding the board would continue cooperation with the board of commissioners and the mayor.

Tom DeLeah was nominated and elected vice president by roll call; that motion also passed unanimously (9 yes, 0 no). DeLeah praised colleagues and stressed continued collaboration across town government and the community. “His deep understanding of our district’s needs combined with his ability to navigate complex challenges has made him an invaluable asset,” DeLeah’s nominator said of him during the nomination remarks.

The board then moved to organization action items numbered 4 through 28. The package of organization items was approved by roll call; the transcript records unanimous affirmative votes on the motion (9 yes, 0 no). The meeting notice, posted Jan. 4, 2024 and cited at the start of the meeting, was read into the record in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act.

The board opened a public comment period governed by board regulation 0167, which allotts 20 minutes to public communications with a three-minute limit per speaker; the board chair closed the public comment portion after hearing no requests. The board announced a regularly scheduled meeting later in the month on Jan. 24 and adjourned.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to elect Sal Ferrero as Board president — Passed; roll call: Mister Balsamo (yes), Missus Danchek Martin (yes), Dr. Tom DeLeah (yes), Sal Ferrero (yes), Daniel Fraginals (yes), Steven Gilberty (yes), Mister Kaczynski (yes), Missus Quirk (yes), Nicholas Scotti (yes). Tally: 9–0. - Motion to elect Tom DeLeah as Board vice president — Passed; roll call recorded as unanimous. Tally: 9–0. - Motion to approve organization action items 4–28 — Passed by roll call; tally recorded as unanimous. Tally: 9–0.

The board cited state law provisions during the administration of the oath, including requirements that candidates possess the qualifications prescribed by law and not be disqualified by conviction or other statutory provisions. The meeting concluded with congratulations to the newly elected and appointed members and comments about ongoing collaboration between the Nutley Board of Education and municipal officials.