South River Board of Education elects Cynthia Bennett president; Kevin Nielsen named vice president

Cynthia Bennett was elected president of the South River Board of Education at the board's Jan. 2, 2025, reorganization meeting and Kevin Nielsen was elected vice president.

The reorganizational meeting, held at the high school auditorium, also included the swearing-in of newly elected and reelected board members, approval of the 2025 meeting dates, routine approvals for use of facilities, finance and policy agenda items and a move to executive session to discuss attorney-client privileged matters.

The reorganized board took the oath of office for several members, including Renee Bush, Lisa Byrne and Nicole Sadowski, all of whom were sworn in at the start of the meeting. Mr. Rosa, the board secretary serving as temporary chair for the opening, administered the oath to new and returning members.

After nominations, Cynthia Bennett was put forward for president and received unanimous roll-call approval. "I think we do have a great board where we all participate. No one person heads it and everybody does have an equal say," Bennett said after the vote.

Kevin Nielsen was nominated and elected vice president by roll-call vote. Nielsen thanked the board and praised leadership and improvements under district administration.

Superintendent Dr. Zurcher offered brief remarks, congratulating the board and noting the district is "student centered," and pointed to agenda item 7.1 (a superintendent report item that included a confirmed HIB) as part of his report for the evening.

The board approved a slate of routine items by voice or roll-call votes, including the use of facilities requests listed as agenda items 675 and 676, finance committee recommendations (agenda items 8.1 and 8.2), and policy committee recommendations (agenda item 9.1). During discussion of the finance items a board member noted the district will install a new baseball scoreboard for the coming season; no cost or vendor was specified in the meeting record.

The board then opened public comment (first call). A representative from the borough council introduced herself and said she looked forward to working with the board. After the public-comment period the board voted to enter executive session to discuss attorney-client privileged matters; the board stated the item can be disclosed to the public when resolved.

Votes at a glance

- Election of board president: Cynthia Bennett nominated; motion seconded; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous yes; outcome: approved. - Election of vice president: Kevin Nielsen nominated; motion seconded; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous yes; outcome: approved. - 2025 board meeting dates and pre-meetings: motion to approve by Kevin Nielsen; seconded by a board member; approved by voice/roll call. - Use of facilities (agenda items 675 and 676): motion to approve; seconded; outcome: approved. - Superintendent's report and confirmed HIB (agenda item 7.1): motion to approve the superintendent's report including the confirmed HIB record; outcome: approved. - Finance items (agenda items 8.1 and added 8.2): finance committee recommended approval; motion made and seconded; outcome: approved. (Board member noted a new baseball scoreboard will be installed; no budget or vendor details provided.) - Policy item (agenda item 9.1): policy committee recommended approval; motion made and seconded; outcome: approved. - Motion to enter executive session under the Open Public Meetings Act for attorney-client privilege matters: motion made and seconded; outcome: approved (board entered closed session).

Ending

Board leadership and committee assignments were left largely unchanged, with the board president and vice president elected for the year. The board indicated the executive-session matter is expected to be disclosed when possible. Several routine administrative items were approved without substantive public debate; specific contract, cost, or vendor details (for the scoreboard or other items) were not specified in the public record.