Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, was the deadline for candidates to submit applications to the NJSBA Nominating Committee to fill the unexpired term of the office of Vice President for Legislation/Resolutions. Pursuant to Governance and Operations File Code 8204, the nominating committee will present a candidate for election at the Association’s bi-annual meeting on Nov. 22, 2025.

That same policy(GO/8204), directs that all applicants seeking nomination as an officer by the nominating committee shall have their name, school district/county, and the position sought announced in School Board Notes following the deadline for submission of nominations.

In accordance with the above policy, as of the deadline, NJSBA received three applications from the following school board members:

Vice-President for Legislation/Resolutions

Bernadette Dalesandro – Netcong Board of Education (Morris)

Barry Fitzgerald – Lenape Regional Board of Education (Burlington)    

Judy Bassford – Clifton Board of Education (Passaic)

Nomination by Petition

NJSBA bylaws also provide for candidates to be nominated by petition, signed by at least 10 members from at least five different district boards of education and filed with the executive director. Beginning Sept.23, 2025, petitions may be obtained by visiting NJSBA’s Web site. Petitions may not be circulated prior to Sept. 23 and must be received by the executive director no later than Oct. 17, 2025.

Signatures need not all appear upon a single petition, and any number of petitions may be filed on behalf of a candidate, but no petition shall contain the endorsement of more than one candidate.

Nominations by petition should be sent via Federal Express or registered/receipt-requested mail. The written consent of the candidate for nomination by petition must also be filed with the executive director by the above deadline.

Information with Petition

When submitting nominations by petition, candidates should include a color or black-and-white “head and shoulders” photo, and a resume that includes a statement of 200 words or less, explaining why they are seeking the position.

Resumes should contain information under the following headings in the following order: Local Board Activities; County Activities; NJSBA Activities; Education; and Employment/Community Activities. A sample resume may be obtained from Lauren Liu by calling 609-278-5250. A report of all candidates by petition will be made no later than Nov.4, 2025. The report will appear in School Board Notes and on NJSBA’s website.

Nominating Committee

Members of the 2025-27 Nominating Committee include:

Irene LeFebvre, Chair; Karen Cortellino, M.D., immediate past president, ex-officio; Boonton Board of Education (Morris); Diane Morris, Mine Hill BOE (Morris); Michael Sprague, Norwood BOE (Bergen); Victoria Pakala, Brick BOE (Ocean); Marsha Hershman, Lindenwold BOE (Camden); Jennifer Knittel, Washington Twp. BOE (Warren); Dr. Courtney Washington, Roselle BOE (Union); Donna Iacone, Cinnaminson BOE (Burlington); Patrick Ireland, Egg Harbor Twp. BOE (Atlantic); Ray Morris, Newton BOE (Sussex); Alan Paris, Clifton BOE (Passaic) and JoAnn Groeger, Lawrence Township BOE (Mercer).