Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Reorganization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Edison board swears in three members; Jerry Hsieh elected president
Summary
At its Jan. 2 reorganization meeting, the Edison Township Board of Education swore in Ronak Patel, Ralph Erico and Jerry Hsieh, elected Hsieh president and Vishal Patel vice president, and unanimously adopted the state-mandated code of ethics. Residents asked about meeting locations and using school facilities for tournaments.
The Edison Township Board of Education on Jan. 2 swore in three newly elected members, chose Jerry Hsieh as board president and Vishal Patel as vice president, and adopted the state-mandated code of ethics.
John Toth, the district’s business administrator, opened the annual reorganization meeting and read the certified November 2024 results that showed Ronak Patel, Ralph Erico and Jerry Hsieh as the winners of the board race. The three then took the statutory oath of office administered by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who was invited to the ceremony.
Gottheimer congratulated the new members. “Our great schools, we got the best educators in the country,” he said, praising Edison-area schools and volunteers and urging the board to keep focusing on students. After Patel’s oath, Gottheimer presented a certificate indicating a U.S. flag had been flown over the U.S. Capitol in the new member’s honor.
Following nominations, the board conducted paper-ballot votes. The board secretary read individual ballots and announced that Jerry Hsieh had been elected president and that Vishal Patel would serve as vice president. The board then moved to adopt parliamentary procedures and carried that motion by roll-call vote.
The board attorney read the required code of ethics under N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1 and asked that the reading be waived for brevity. A motion to adopt the code of ethics passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.
During public comment, residents repeatedly congratulated the board and raised practical questions for the coming year. One parent asked whether the board had planned meeting locations and recognition nights to ensure suitable auditoriums for school events, noting JP Stevens appears on the March calendar and asking if its auditorium will be ready. Beth Talke asked, “Is that gonna be at, like, maybe Edison High or JP that it's a big enough auditorium when you have teacher recognition?”
Matt Revnack, identified as the ETA president, thanked district leaders for communication and action after a recent water-main break that affected facilities and the return to school. “He was in communication with me throughout, including yesterday with the return to school,” Revnack said, praising the superintendent’s response.
Other public commenters suggested opening high-school facilities for tournaments to generate revenue and support student athletics. Anthony De Ameren proposed exploring use of district venues for events such as wrestling tournaments to increase community engagement and revenue.
Before adjourning, newly elected board leaders outlined priorities for the year. In remarks to the meeting, the board president said the district will prioritize school expansion, facility improvements, “ensuring equitable access to transportation,” and programs such as free SAT tutoring and expanded pre-K seating, and emphasized a commitment to transparency and community engagement.
The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn carried on a voice vote.
