New BOE members were sworn into their seats on Jan. 3
After losing two members in 2017, the Burlington Township Board of Education welcomed its newcomers on Jan. 3 at its reorganization meeting.
Maryann McMahon-Nester, an incumbent, was re-elected in November, tallying 1,916 votes, according to Burlington Township Schools. Challengers Lisa Bungarden and Christopher Holmes won the two remaining three-year, full-term seats with 2,150 and 2,086 votes, respectively.
Longtime member Israel “Izzy” Rivera retired from the board, effective Dec. 31, after serving the district for 17 years. He received an emotional send-off and an outpouring of praise from his fellow volunteers, community members and school staff and faculty.
“Thank you for letting me be part of your family all these years,” Rivera said at the public session Nov. 29. “I appreciate all your kind words, and I’m humbled.”
The acceptance of Rivera’s resignation required the board to appoint a new member to the vacant seat. At the public work session on Dec. 13, the board appointed Antoinette Minors-Ferguson to the position for the unexpired term, which runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.
“Minors-Ferguson recently ran for election to the board and was the candidate with the most votes not elected to fill a seat. The board took this into consideration when making its determination,” the board said in a press release.
Minors-Ferguson’s appointment was reaffirmed at the Dec. 20 public session.
Balvir Singh, who served on the board for a three-year term, ran for a seat on the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders, defeating incumbent Republicans Bruce Garganio and Linda Hughes. He stepped down from the board on Dec. 20 and was sworn in as a Burlington County freeholder on Jan. 3.
McMahon-Nester and board member Susan Eichmann were unanimously chosen as president and vice president at reorganization. They will maintain these appointments for one year.
Superintendent Mary-Ann Bell welcomed the new and returning board members in her report and extended congratulations to McMahon-Nester and Eichmann on their appointments.
In other news, Burlington Township Council did not hold local elections in 2017, but swore in Michael Cantwell as council president. All the professional appointments remained the same.
Council will continue to meet on the second and the fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. at the municipal building on Old York Road.
