Montgomery Township School Board swears in four members, elects Patrick Todd president

The Montgomery Township School Board opened its reorganizational meeting by announcing the results of the Nov. 5, 2024 school election, swearing in four newly elected members and electing Patrick Todd as board president.

The election results read into the record showed three three-year seats won by Marie Espina (5,395 votes), Patrick Todd (5,269 votes) and Tina Wang (5,036 votes), and one two-year seat won by Anita Nargill (7,447 votes). The board then administered the oath of office to the four newly elected members.

The board immediately moved to elect officers. After nominations and a roll-call vote, Patrick Todd was elected president. Todd, newly elected to the post, thanked his colleagues and said, "First of all, I'd like to thank my fellow board members for entrusting me to lead this wonderful board for another year. ... We have some amazing things to do, but no matter what, we all have to remember that we are here to serve these children. That is our number one goal to make sure these children are well educated and their mental and physical health is well taken care of." The transcript records a roll-call vote in favor of Todd.

The board held two rounds of nominations for vice president. The transcript records an initial nomination of Joanna Filak and a second nomination that the transcript identifies as "Miss Spina"; after the second roll call the transcript records the board congratulating "Miss Sveena" as the successful nominee. The meeting minutes and agenda materials should be consulted for the vice president's full, official name and formal vote tally.

Board members approved administrative agenda items listed on the meeting agenda (identified in the record as items 8 through 20 and item 21) by roll-call vote. The board chair reminded members that the New Jersey School Boards code of ethics requires annual acknowledgement and that training from the New Jersey School Boards field representative will be scheduled at a later date. Board members were asked to return a sign-in/acknowledgement form to the board chair at the meeting's end.

The board moved into executive session to discuss materials described in the record as "materials that constitute unwarranted invasion in individual privacy" (agenda item 3); the motion was seconded and carried, and the board later reconvened in public session. The board also moved to adopt an action-agenda item described in the record as item 1.1; a roll-call vote was recorded in favor of adoption.

During public comment, Vince Barragan, who identified himself as deputy mayor of Montgomery Township, congratulated newly elected board members and praised the district's partnership with township officials and the schools, noting ongoing collaboration around the district's Veterans Day ceremony and expressing interest in working toward a New Jersey Governors' "We Value Veterans" community award. A Bellamy resident spoke during public comment to criticize remarks made previously by "Miss Dowling," invoked the First Amendment and cited the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court decision New York Times Co. v. Sullivan while urging that public debate remain robust.

The meeting concluded after closing business, with a motion to adjourn carried by voice vote.