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New Providence Board of Education elects Cuccaro president, Marano vice president; announces committee assignments
Summary
At its Jan. 2 reorganizational meeting, the New Providence Board of Education swore in newly elected members, unanimously elected Bernadette Cuccaro as board president and Amanda Marano as vice president, and named committee chairs and liaison appointments; no members of the public spoke.
The New Providence Board of Education held its reorganizational meeting on Jan. 2, 2025, at the New Providence High School/Middle School Media Center. James Testa, the district’s School Business Administrator and board secretary, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., led the salute to the flag and read the board’s public-meeting notice under PL 1975, Chapter 231, Section 13.
Mr. Testa administered the oath of office to newly elected board members Laura Castellano, Stacey Gunderman and Donna Zane. The board secretary read the official Nov. 5, 2024 election totals: Laura Castellano 2,869 votes; Stacey Gunderman 3,025 votes; Donna Zane 2,706 votes; total votes cast 12,609; total registered voters 10,585.
Amanda Marano nominated Bernadette Cuccaro for the office of board president; Joseph (Joe) Walsh seconded the nomination. With no further nominations, the board held a roll-call vote in which all seven members present voted yea, electing Mrs. Cuccaro president. Mrs. Stacey Gunderman nominated Amanda Marano for vice president; Dr. Kristin Empson Hayden seconded. The board again voted unanimously to elect Mrs. Marano vice president.
Following the officer elections, President Cuccaro announced committee and liaison assignments for 2025. Committee leadership includes Dr. Empson Hayden as chair of Curriculum & Technology (members: Zane, Castellano); Joseph Walsh as chair of Finance, Facilities & Safety/Security (members: Gunderman, Marano); and Stacey Gunderman as chair of Personnel, Management & Communication (members: Empson Hayden, Marano). The board also named liaisons to the Union County School Board Association, Union County Educational Services Commission, New Jersey School Boards Association, Municipal Alliance, Morris Union Jointure Commission, New Providence Education Foundation and the New Providence Borough Council.
President Cuccaro opened the meeting to public comment at 7:10 p.m.; there were no public comments and the public portion was closed at 7:10 p.m. On a motion by Mr. Walsh, seconded by Mrs. Gunderman, and carried unanimously, the meeting was adjourned at 7:11 p.m. The minutes are signed by James Testa, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary.
The reorganizational meeting sets the board’s leadership and committee structure for the coming year; no substantive policy decisions, votes on ordinances, or public concerns were recorded during this session.
