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Franklin Borough Board of Education elects officers, adopts bylaws and ethics code
Summary
At its Jan. 5, 2026 organization meeting, the Franklin Borough Board of Education sworn in newly elected trustees, chose Kathleen Clohessey as board president and Erin Henry as vice president, and unanimously approved a slate of organizational resolutions including meeting dates, bank signatories and the N.J. Code of Ethics.
Kathleen Clohessey was elected president of the Franklin Borough Board of Education and Erin Henry was elected vice president during the board’s organization meeting on Jan. 5, 2026, at Franklin Elementary School.
The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. with Carlos Sarmiento, the district’s Business Administrator/Board Secretary, reading the Open Public Meetings Act notice and reporting the results of the Nov. 4, 2025 school board election. John J. Friend, Stephen Koger and Stephanie Perna were sworn in to three-year terms.
In roll-call elections that followed, Stephen Koger nominated Kathleen Clohessey for president; the board approved the nomination by an 8–0–0 roll-call vote. Koger then nominated Erin Henry for vice president; the board approved that nomination by an 8–0–0 roll-call vote.
On a motion by Wayne Bartron, seconded by Erin Henry, the board unanimously approved Organization items A–J. The resolutions adopted the district’s existing bylaws and policies through the next organization meeting, appointed the superintendent as alternate custodian of records and the vice president to serve as alternate board secretary when necessary, and adopted the New Jersey Code of Ethics for School Board Members (N.J.S.A.18A:12-24.1). The board also approved the New Jersey School Boards Association evaluation instruments for board and superintendent evaluations and set the 2026 regular meeting calendar.
The board designated Provident Bank and TD Bank as official depositories and specified account signatories for general, payroll, agency, FSA, student activities, food service and summer savings accounts, and adopted existing contracts and agreements to which the board is a party where continuation is permitted by law.
Kelly Mitchell of the New Jersey School Boards Association made a School Boards Ethics presentation to the board. Superintendent John R. Giacchi reported facility updates, including new library furniture and newly installed upper-playground swing sets.
During the public comment period for non-agenda items, Thomas Tiseo, Cub Scout leader of Pack 90, requested use of school facilities for an all-day wrestling event on May 9; the board said the request would be discussed at its next meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
Meeting attendance was recorded as Kathleen Clohessey, Wayne Bartron, John J. Friend, Erin Henry, Rachel Kabbash, Stephen Koger, Christopher Patterson and Stephanie Perna; John VanKampen was absent.
