The Morris County School Boards Association (MCSBA) hosted the Third Annual Nancy Helbourg Memorial Recognition Ceremony on May 7 at Mount Olive High School in Flanders.
The dinner was catered by Maschio’s Food Services and took place in the high school lobby, which was beautifully designed, supplied and decorated by Jessica Parks, a member of the Netcong Board of Education. The Morris County SBA would like to extend a special thank you to the Mount Olive School District for their exceptional attention to detail and outstanding hospitality, particularly to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sumit Bangia and High School Principal Kevin Stansberry.
MCSBA President Bernadette Dalesandro, a member of the Netcong Board of Education, welcomed attendees both in person and virtually to celebrate the 2024-2025 school year during MCSBA’s final meeting of the year. Students from Mount Olive High School entertained guests during dinner, leading the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the national anthem.
Karen Cortellino, M.D., of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), was present to extend warm greetings on behalf of the NJSBA and expressed gratitude to Morris County members as she concluded her term as NJSBA president just three days later.
Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn attended the event to greet guests and presented proclamations from the New Jersey state Assembly to the student award winners. Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon also joined the ceremony to present the Annual 8th Grade Unsung Hero Recognition to four outstanding eighth-grade students.
Charlene Peterson, NJSBA senior field service representative, and Robert Acerra, NJSBA county activities coordinator, presented milestone awards and NJSBA board member academy certification recognitions, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of board of education members in Morris County. This year, 35 board members were recognized for a collective total of 500 years of service to their communities.
The following board members were honored during the event:
New Board Member Boardsmanship Certification
- Amanda Adams, Randolph Township
- Kimberly Albensi, Netcong
- Jennifer Antoncich, Mine Hill Township
- Tom Chiang, Jr., Mountain Lakes
- Lisa Fenton, Mount Olive
- BethAnn Figueira, Mount Olive
- Victoria Pinales, Town of Dover
- Michael Portas, Lincoln Park
- Maria Solines, Town of Dover
- Wendy Wright, Parsippany-Troy Hills
Certified Board Member Certification
- Lisa Narcise, Mount Olive
- Jessica Parks, Netcong
- Robert Waskis, Washington Township
Master Board Member Certification
- Sam Ciresi, Pequannock Township
- Jennifer Darling, Boonton Town
- Jessica Parks, Netcong
- Kathy Purcell, Roxbury Township
- Stephen Tindall, Madison
- Robert Waskis, Washington Township
Certified Board Leader Certification
- Anne Colucci, Roxbury Township
- Jennifer Darling, Boonton Town
- Joanne Greene Tobias, Hanover Park Regional
10-Year Milestones
- Alison Allison, Butler
- Michael Andersen, Denville
- Kathleen Barnick, Mine Hill Township
- Timothy Berrios, Parsippany-Troy Hills
- Peter Bruseo, Mine Hill Township
- Dino Cappello, Denville
- Ann Ciccarelli, The Chathams
- Sam Ciresi, Pequannock Township
- Al Decena, Mount Arlington
- Kristina Heinold, Florham Park
- Jennifer Hobbs, Wharton Boro
- Judy Mayer, Parsippany-Troy Hills
- Grace McBride, Boonton Township
- Kerri Lynn Santalucia, Netcong
- Abhinov Singh, Harding Township
- Robert Strobel, West Morris Regional
- Karl Svenningsen, Mount Arlington
- Vincent Ucci, East Hanover Township
15-Year Milestones
- Joanne Barkauskas, Mountain Lakes
- Rachel Byrne, Mount Arlington
- Andrew Choffo, Parsippany-Troy Hills
- Barbara Levy, Morris Hills Regional
- Scott Miller, Town of Dover
- Susan Shauer, Town of Dover
- Karen Smith, Butler
- Michael Stewart, Jefferson Township
- Sheila Studint, Mount Arlington
20-Year Milestones
- Dr. Karen Cortellino, Montville Township
- John Hyland, Morris County Vocational
- Maria Manley, Morris Plains
- Michael Palma, Montville Township
- John Vitale, Mendham Borough
25-Year Milestones
- Karen Ann Nyquist, Long Hill Township
30-Year Milestones
- Bernadette Dalesandro, Netcong
- Irene LeFebvre, Boonton Town
The following sponsors generously donated a total of $26,298.06 in scholarships, tuition assistance, and gift cards to deserving students in Morris County.
- Valley Bank – $3,000
- VFW Post 5351 – $3,000
- Morris County Association of School Administrators – $2,200
- 403 Reasons to Run Foundation, Inc. – $2,008.06 ($1,004.03 to each recipient)
- Friends of Morris County SBA – $1,800
- Maschio’s Food Services, Inc. – $1,500
- Solutions Architecture – $1,500
- County College of Morris – $1,500
- Laura Bishop Communications – $1,000
- Nancy’s Village – $1,000
- Adams, Lattiboudere, Croot, & Herman Law – $1,000
- Treadstone – $1,000
- USA Architects – $1,000
- FKA Architects – $1,000
- Best Choice Home Care Limited Liability Company – $1,000
- All American Mechanical – $500
- The Rotary Club of the Skylands – $500
- Parette Somjen Architects, LLC – $500
- Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo Law – $500
- McDonald’s and Burger King – gift cards for each student.
Dalesandro and Acerra showcased a 12-minute highlight video filled with photos and video clips from board members and administrators throughout Morris County, celebrating the retirement of Charlene Peterson, the NJSBA Senior Field Services representative, who presented her final report and expressed her gratitude to the members of Morris County for their hard work and commitment to the students. Dalesandro also delivered her closing remarks as the 2021–25 President of the MCSBA.
Jessica Parks, chair of the Morris County SBA Nominating Committee, presented the slate for the 2025-27 Morris County SBA executive committee. They include:
- Lisa Mezik (Rockaway Township) – President
- Peter Dumovic (Mendham Township) – 1st Vice President
- Jessica DeCicco (Washington Township) – 2nd Vice President for Legislation
- Diane Morris (Mine Hill Township) – NJSBA Board of Directors Delegate
- Irene LeFebvre (Boonton Town) – NJSBA Board of Directors Alternate
- Bernadette Dalesandro (Netcong) – Immediate-Past President
- Jennifer Aiello (Lincoln Park)
- Michael Bertram (Morris Hills Regional)
- Joseph Daughtry (Montville Township)
- Robin Ghebreal (Wharton)
- Judy Mayer (Parsippany-Troy Hills)
- T.C. McCourt (Town of Dover)
- Karen Ann Nyquist (Long Hill Township)
- Sara Schultz (Chester)
Robert Acerra conducted the elections and administered the oath of office to the newly elected executive committee. Newly installed President Lisa Mezik shared some remarks before joining Dalesandro in closing the final meeting of the school year for the Morris County School Boards Association.
