Stanhope Board of Education elects Scharfstein president, Herold vice president at Jan. 7 reorganizational meeting

The Stanhope Board of Education convened its annual reorganizational meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, certified the school election results and made officer and committee appointments before adjourning at 6:18 p.m.

The board recorded official school election results for two three-year seats: Avery Quayle-Badolato received 1,220 votes (53.4%), Najib Iftikhar received 1,022 votes (44.8%), and write-ins totaled 42 (1.8%). The Oath of Office was administered to re-elected and newly elected board members. The roll call listed six members present — Jennifer Herold, Carmen Pico, Avery Quayle-Badolato, Mattia Scharfstein, Matthew Vilardo and Yacoub Yaghnam — and noted Najib Iftikhar as absent. Superintendent Steven Hagemann and Substitute Board Secretary Carissa Berkowicz were in attendance, along with two community members and one faculty member.

Nomination and vote Yacoub Yaghnam moved, and Jennifer Herold seconded, a motion to appoint Mattia Scharfstein as Board President. The board’s roll call vote was recorded as Yes from Herold, Pico, Quayle-Badolato, Scharfstein, Vilardo and Yaghnam; Najib Iftikhar was absent. Following the vote, Mrs. Mattia Scharfstein assumed the chair as Board President.

A motion by Avery Quayle-Badolato, seconded by Carmen Pico, to appoint Jennifer Herold as Board Vice President passed by roll call with the same present members voting Yes and Najib Iftikhar absent.

Appointments and committees President Scharfstein’s appointments included delegates and alternates to the New Jersey and Sussex County School Boards Association (Delegate: Mattia Scharfstein; State Alternate and County Alternate: Avery Quayle-Badolato) and a member and alternate to the Sussex County Educational Services Commission Board of Directors (Member: Carmen Pico; Alternate: Mattia Scharfstein).

The board agreed to operate under a committee system for 2025 and approved chairs and membership for the Personnel/Curriculum/School Climate & Culture, Business Services/Facilities & Technology, Policy & Communications, Budget, and Negotiations committees. During discussion, board members reiterated that committees are limited to three members to avoid creating a quorum; Superintendent Steven Hagemann suggested that each board member sit on each committee at least once during their first term.

Schedules and notices By motion, the board approved the committee meeting schedule for 2025 and the regular meeting schedule (regular meetings generally start at 7:00 p.m.), including a public hearing on April 30, 2025 for budget adoption. The board designated the New Jersey Herald (Newton) as the primary official newspaper for notices and The Star-Ledger (Newark) and The Daily Record (Parsippany) as alternates for the 2025 calendar year.

Public comment and adjournment Policy #0167 on public participation was read; no members of the public spoke. A motion to adjourn, moved by Jennifer Herold and seconded by Avery Quayle-Badolato, passed by voice vote (Yes: 6, No: 0, Abstain: 0), and the meeting ended at 6:18 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Appointment of Board President (Mattia Scharfstein): Mover: Yacoub Yaghnam; Second: Jennifer Herold; Roll call: Yes 6, Absent 1 — Outcome: approved. - Appointment of Board Vice President (Jennifer Herold): Mover: Avery Quayle-Badolato; Second: Carmen Pico; Roll call: Yes 6, Absent 1 — Outcome: approved. - Approval of committee structure and committee meeting schedule for 2025: Mover: Yacoub Yaghnam; Second: Jennifer Herold; Roll call: Yes 6, Absent 1 — Outcome: approved. - Approval of regular meeting schedule for 2025 (including April 30 public hearing - budget adoption): Outcome: approved. - Designation of official newspapers for 2025: Outcome: approved. - Adjournment: Mover: Jennifer Herold; Second: Avery Quayle-Badolato; Voice vote: Yes 6 — Outcome: approved.

Next steps The board’s next scheduled regular meeting is Jan. 15, 2025. Minutes were recorded by Substitute Board Secretary Carissa Berkowicz and will be submitted for formal approval at a future meeting.