Patricia Blome, in purple, is a retired educator and board member. Terri Schechter, to Blome’s right, will serve as vice president.
After a lot of reflection, Patricia Blome pitched why she would best lead the township board of education in 2026.
“I did not decide to do this in opposition of anyone else tonight,” she acknowledged during a reorganization meeting on Jan. 6. “I’m doing so because I believe I have the best chance of working with everyone sitting on the dais and in the room to make a difference on how the board is perceived publicly and privately.”
Blome noted that as an experienced board member and educator, she could help the district heal.
“My goal is to make meetings focused on the work of the board for students, staff and community,” she explained, “not … for entertainment purposes. I will concentrate on what we need to accomplish as a board for our students. I have a lot of ideas about what we as a board can (do to) restore responsibility and respect towards each other as we work together for our staff and community.”
A first round of nominations for board president included Blome, Julie Kozempel and Terri Schechter. Each member did not receive five votes needed to become president.
After discussion, a second round of nominations for board president came up for vote. It again included Blome, Kozempel and Schechter.
This time Blome, a retired educator, received the five votes needed to become president.
“In my opinion we have lost our focus over the years,” she said as she reflected on the past few years.
“If we truly want to be a successful school district, we need to be better leaders and role models for our students, staff and community.
The board voted for Schechter to serve as board vice president.
During the reorganization meeting, Board solicitor Nicholas Repici administered the oath of office to Kozempel, Schechter and Connie Baker. They won the three seats available during a contested general election in November.
The reorganization meeting was a new beginning for Repici and the Lenox Law Firm. In December, the board voted to approve Lenox Law Firm to serve as solicitor in 2026. Legal services will be billed at $185 an hour rate. The previous board solicitor was Busch Law Group.
Board members discussed meeting with the new board solicitor in the near future in executive session to go over ongoing litigation.
In Township Council news:
Peter Del Borrello III will continue serving as council president and Donald Brown will continue serving as council vice president. They were nominated at a reorganization meeting on Jan. 2.
