Franklin Borough Board of Education elects officers, administers oaths and adopts bylaws and ethics code

At its Jan. 2 organizational meeting at Franklin Elementary School, the Franklin Borough Board of Education elected Kathleen Clohessey as board president and Erin Henry as vice president, administered the oath of office to three newly elected members and approved a set of organization resolutions to guide board operations through January 2026.

Carlos Sarmiento, the school district’s Business Administrator and Board Secretary, opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m., led the Pledge of Allegiance and read the board’s notice under the Open Public Meetings Act. Sarmiento reported Nov. 5, 2024 election results: Erin Henry received 1,620 votes; write-in totals included Christopher Patterson (17) and John VanKampen (22); total write-ins were 204 and the overall total was 1,863. He then administered the Oath of Office to Erin Henry, Christopher Patterson and John VanKampen.

Nominations for board president produced two candidates: Stephen Koger nominated Kathleen Clohessey and John J. Friend nominated Wayne Bartron. After both nominees spoke about their credentials, Kathleen Clohessey was elected board president by roll call, 7–2. The Board President turned the meeting over to Clohessey.

Nominations for vice president followed. John J. Friend nominated Wayne Bartron and Rachel Kabbash nominated Erin Henry. A roll call for Bartron failed, 3–6; Erin Henry was elected vice president by roll call, 7–2.

On a motion by John J. Friend, seconded by Erin Henry, and carried unanimously, the board approved its organization package (Items A–G). Those approvals included adopting the board’s existing bylaws and policies through the next organization meeting in January 2026; authorizing the superintendent to serve as alternate custodian of records; designating the vice president to serve as alternate board secretary when necessary; and approving evaluation instruments provided by the New Jersey School Boards Association for the board’s self-evaluation and for the superintendent’s annual evaluation. The board also approved its regular monthly meeting schedule for 2025 and directed the Business Administrator/Board Secretary to advertise and post the meeting notices.

The board named The New Jersey Herald and The Star-Ledger as official newspapers for public notices and approved Provident Bank and TD Bank as official depositories with account signatories assigned by fund type (general fund, payroll, agency, FSA, student activities, food service and summer savings).

The board also resolved to continue existing contracts and agreements where lawful and approved annual appointments effective Jan. 2, 2025, including delegates to the Sussex County School Boards Association, the New Jersey School Boards Association and the Sussex County Educational Services Commission.

Kelly Mitchell of the New Jersey School Boards Association presented a School Boards Ethics training for the board. During new business, President Clohessey and Superintendent John R. Giacchi discussed committee meeting times; Giacchi also briefed the board on a frozen-pipe situation in district facilities. No formal action was recorded on those items.

The board opened two brief public-comment periods (agenda and non-agenda); Sarmiento read the board’s public-comment policy and no members of the public addressed the board. The meeting was adjourned at 7:59 p.m. on a motion by Erin Henry, seconded by Christopher Patterson.

Meeting documents list the statutory Code of Ethics citation cited by the board as N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1 and reference the Open Public Meetings Act (Public Law 1975, Chapter 231).