Deptford Township Board of Education swears in three members; elects Joe McKenna president, Mark Getsinger vice president

Joe McKenna, a board member, was elected president of the Deptford Township Board of Education after receiving eight affirmative votes; Justin Green abstained. The reorganization meeting began at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 in the Deptford Township Administration Building in Sewell.

Carisa Rose, school business administrator and board secretary, read the official election results and administered the meeting’s procedural notices before the swearing‑in. Mr. Ronald Latham Jr. administered the oath of office to three elected members: Linda S. Rosser, Stacy L. Gray and Juliah Davis. The Code of Ethics was distributed to each board member for acknowledgment.

At the first order of business, nominations were opened for board leadership. Joe McKenna accepted a nomination for president and was elected with eight votes in favor and one abstention from Justin Green. Mark Getsinger was elected vice president in a separate vote with the same 8–0–1 tally; the board recorded the motions as carried.

President McKenna appointed himself as the district’s delegate to the New Jersey School Boards Association and to the Gloucester County School Boards Association, and named Mark Getsinger as the alternate delegate to both associations.

During the public comment period, Jim Beebe asked about the status of hiring an additional instructor that had appeared on a prior agenda and expressed concerns about what he described as a decline in events, leadership and community participation; Superintendent Kevin Kanauss said he would follow up with additional information by email. A parent identified as Tricia S. urged the newly seated board to set a positive tone for special education students and their families and called for increased collaboration and communication.

On the recommendation of the superintendent, the board voted to enter closed session at 6:51 p.m. to discuss matters described as pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiation involving professional services, citing N.J.S.A. 10:4‑12 and attorney‑client privilege. The resolution stated the board would make discussion public when the board attorney advised disclosure would not be harmful. The meeting reconvened and was adjourned at 7:26 p.m.; both the return and adjournment were recorded as carried unanimously.

Actions recorded in the meeting minutes include the swearing‑in of three elected members, the election of board president and vice president, appointment of association delegates, the board’s vote to enter closed session to discuss professional services, and adjournment. No formal policy votes or contract awards were recorded in the public portion of the meeting.