Youngest member takes a seat on Board of Education
Full-time student at The College of New Jersey and working for the Department of Homeland Security as a public safety trainer and consultant are only two of many accomplishments on 20-year-old Brandon Pugh’s resume. Pugh is now the youngest member to hold a seat on the Moorestown Board of Education.
Sworn in during the reorganization meeting on Thursday, Jan. 3, Pugh along with incumbent David Weinstein and newcomer Sheryl Sawin will serve on the board for three years.
Pursuing a degree in political science, Pugh said he might not have a college degree, but he has the experience necessary for the job on the board.
Although there was a two-month gap between the election and members taking office, Pugh said he attended meetings for more than a year, carefully reading the agenda and taking notes during meetings.
Pugh abstained from two items on the agenda — the ratification of past board action/bargaining group reorganization, and the re-adoption of district curriculum, textbooks and board policies. He said he wants to know what he is voting on even if it takes hours to find out.
With a background in safety training for Homeland Security, a member of the New Jersey Assembly Citizens Advisory Panel on education, a member of the New Jersey Governor’s Advisory Council on volunteerism, and participation in the U.S. Department of Education and New Jersey School Board Association, Pugh said he is bringing a different perspective to the table.
“There is a lot I plan to do. Several things I have already brought to the board,” he said.
He said his wants to utilize his experience in safety training to help improve safety in the schools.
Pugh said he also wants to create more of a connection between the school board, teachers, students and taxpayers. He said he wants to attempt to eliminate any disconnect between the school board and residents in town.
“What I can’t forget, and what the board can’t forget is that we were elected by the people of this town. So every single thing we do, which I think we currently do, we need to keep that in mind,” he said.
According to Pugh, 62 percent of taxes go to the school district, and some residents don’t have children in the school system. He wants to keep them up-to-date and in the loop.
Pugh created a webpage designed to keep residents aware about what is going on at the meetings. He said reading an agenda and the minutes from a meeting is not the only way residents should be informed.
Improving communication between the school board and taxpayers by creating a webpage for constant communication, Pugh said his involvement as a member of the New Jersey Assembly Citizen Advisory Panel on education will also help bring more of a state connect to Moorestown.
Assemblyman Troy Singleton was at the meeting to show his support for Pugh.
Singleton invited Pugh to be a part of the advisory panel for education. He said the panel is a way for people to offer suggestions and ideas on legislative issues.
“[Brandon] was kind enough to give us [some ideas] and we already started moving one of those forward,” Singleton said.
According to Singleton, Pugh suggested that a state level task force should be created to help “warehouse all the ideas” on school related activities.
“Hopefully [the idea is] going to get to the Governor’s desk some time in the first quarter,” he said.
Singleton said Pugh still sits in on policy discussion and provides “a lot of good insights.”
“I know he is going to do a good job [on the school board]. He is ready to hit the ground running,” Singleton said.
Pugh said he is not going to rule out running for council or assembly. But he wanted to join the Moorestown Board of Education because it is something he is familiar with and confident he can use his background makes him more qualified as a school board member.
“I wouldn’t rule out running for council or assembly within the next term or two on the board. I don’t have any intention of leaving until the things I set out to do are accomplished,” he said.
Meeting update
The agenda was fairly small during the reorganization meeting. The board reelected Don Mishler as the board president and Kathy Goldenberg as vice president.
Board members also voted to extend Garrison Architects’ contract as architect of record, and R. Blair Summersgill of Moorestown Family Practice’s contract as school physician to June 30. The school district will make requests for proposals in the spring.
The board also approved Arthur F. Risden of Comegno Law Group to serve as the board’s solicitor until the next reorganization meeting.
Michael Holt from Holman and Frenia was also appointed as the school district’s auditor.
