The return of incumbent school board member Mara Franceschi and the election of newcomers Ari Meisel and Christopher Santarpio in the Nov. 5 general election has been confirmed.
Franceschi was elected to her second, three-year term on the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education, and will be joined by Meisel and Santarpio. They were chosen by voters from among a field of six candidates for three open seats.
The final vote tally for each candidate was certified by Mercer County officials and released Nov. 21. The certified vote tallies included early voting, Election Day voting, mail-in ballots and provisional ballots.
Franceschi was the top vote-getter with 5,839 votes, picking up 762 additional votes. She was followed by Santarpio, who picked up 625 more votes for a total of 5,023 votes. Meisel received 615 additional votes for a total of 4,832 votes.
Candidate Erica Snyder placed fourth with 4,672 votes, picking up 579 more votes, Z. Lisa Potter received 4,555, which is 616 more votes and Shenwei Zhao got 3,205 votes, which is an additional 454 more votes.
Franceschi said she sought another term on the school board because she believes that experience matters. She pointed to challenges facing the school district that include a proposed bond referendum for school expansions, and balancing the budget while keeping property tax increases to a minimum.
The school board is searching for a permanent superintendent of schools, and as a first-time participant in the search process, she will bring a fresh set of eyes to the process, she said.
Meisel wants to create an environment where every student reaches their full potential by focusing on personalized learning approaches, investing in teacher development and integrating innovative educational technologies and methodologies.
Meisel said he also wants to enhance security measures in the schools, to include updating safety protocols, investing in security infrastructure and fostering a culture of awareness and preparedness.
Santarpio said his attendance at regular school board meetings, school board committee meetings and PTO Council meetings has helped him to understand the broader management of the Princeton Public Schools.
Santarpio pledged to foster a deep sense of connectivity between the school district and all aspects of the vibrant and diverse communities that have chosen to live in Princeton.
