‘A good year and positive change’ for schools

The Evesham Township Board of Education held its reorganization meeting on Jan. 7 and welcomed three new members.

The session opened with Jonathan Yates – the school district’s administrator and board secretary – serving as acting board president until the swearing-ins. Six candidates, including one incumbent, vied for three, three-year term seats on the board in the November election.

Candidate Krista Iannelli got the most votes, followed by Sean K. Masson and Michael Fisher.

Iannelli has dual bachelor’s degrees in American studies and elementary/special education at Rowan University, as well a master’s in school counseling from Wilmington University. She brings to the board more than 16 years of experience as an public school educator in Burlington County and received the Governor’s Educator of the Year award in 2018. 

Masson has a marketing degree from Rutgers University and has served on the township’s zoning board for four years. He stays involved in local schools and the community by volunteering at Van Zant Elementary, helping to lead Booster Club initiatives and participating in cleanup efforts and community service projects. 

Fisher has a master’s in media journalism from Full Sail University in Florida. For nearly a decade, he has served as a volunteer youth coach of baseball, hockey and basketball for the Marlton Recreation Council. He is also an active supporter of local schools, regularly volunteering at district events.

“Congratulations to (the new board members) on their elections,” Yates said at the board meeting. “We appreciate their commitment to serving our community and look forward to their contributions … The board also thanks all candidates and voters for their participation in this important process.”

Board Solicitor Joan Daly administered the oaths of office to Iannelli, Masson and Fisher. Yates then requested a motion to open the floor for nomination and election of a board president. Board member Terri Butrymowicz nominated Kevin Peelman and Aneesh Kanthan nominated Janis Knoll.

Yates explained how the choice would be made.

“(The board) will do a roll call vote on each candidate in the order they were received,” he explained. “The first candidate to receive a majority vote of the quorum will be elected to board presidency.”

Peelman got four yes votes from the nine-member board, while Knoll got six, affirming her as board president for 2026. Knoll then opened the floor for vice president nominations, with Butrymowicz unanimously affirmed to the position.

“I just want to say, since I was elected president,” Knoll stated, “I want to welcome the new board members, and I’m excited and looking forward to a good year and positive change.”