Contact:
Communications Office
South Orange & Maplewood School District
Office: (973)762-5600, ext. 1834
Email: communications@nullsomsd.k12.nj.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Five Candidates Submit Materials to Fill SOMSD Board of Education Vacancy Seat
July 12, 2021 – The South Orange & Maplewood School District’s Board of Education will meet in a Special Public Meeting tonight, Monday, July 12, 2021, at 6:30 pm to interview five candidates and appoint a member to fill the vacant Board position that was left open due to the resignation of a board member in late May 2021.
Five community members submitted materials which included a letter of interest, resume and other supporting documents, by the July 7 deadline, to be considered for appointment. The five candidates are:
• Anthony Mazzocchi
• Chris Sabin
• Qawi Telesford
• Arun Vadlamani
• Kaitlin Wittleder
All applicants will be provided the opportunity to make a five-minute statement that elaborates on the letter and resume; reasons for wanting to serve, qualifications, and areas of priority. The Board will follow up with any questions. After all statements and questions are concluded, the Board will adjourn to executive session to deliberate. After returning from executive session, the Board will make nominations to fill the position and then vote to appoint one of the candidates. The candidate with a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board will immediately take the oath of office and be seated. The process for filling a vacancy differs from a typical school board election. The person appointed by the Board will become a full member of the Board and serve in that position until the next reorganization meeting in January 2022.
Tonight’s meeting will be hybrid and take place in person in the District Meeting Room, 525 Academy Street, Maplewood, NJ, as well as using the online video conference platform, which will include hearing of individuals and delegations, to interview candidates for the vacant Board member position. If there are members of the community who would like to attend the meeting in person, please note that masks and social distancing are recommended in accordance with the guidance received from the local DOH.
Information including the agenda and ways to join tonight’s BOE meeting can be found at: bitly/SOMSDBOEMtg
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