The return of two incumbent school board members to the Lawrence Township Public Schools Board of Education, who will be joined by a newcomer for the third seat, has been confirmed by Lawrence Township voters.
Incumbent school board member JoAnn Groeger was the top vote-getter with 10,554 votes in the Nov. 5 general election.
Kevin VanHise, the second incumbent school board member, earned 9,972 votes. Newcomer Olga Carillo Martinez got 9,855 votes.
Incumbent school board member Robert Pluta came in fourth with 4,200 votes. Shazia Shah received 3,707 votes.
The vote tallies were 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.
The term is for three years.
Groeger and VanHise have served on the school board since 2011. Martinez is a newcomer.
Groeger said her passion for education has not waned, even after her many years of service on the school board. She said she still has more to offer to students, staff, administrators and residents.
“My experience as a school board member, a former educator in the Lawrence school district, as a parent and as a resident will continue to be valuable,” she said.
VanHise has served as the school board president and vice president. He served on several school board subcommittees, including the Finance and Facilities Committee, the Personnel Committee and the Negotiations Committee.
VanHise said he would like to help with the development and support of strategies and programs to improve academic achievement across all grade levels, and to continue the district’s efforts to attract, retain and support the most qualified and diverse staff possible.
Martinez said she was inspired to run for a seat on the school board after seeing the great work of the school district administration and the many changes they have implemented.
Martinez, who grew up in Guatemala, said education was a priority in her family. Serving on the school board will make official what she has been doing since her children entered the public schools – doing all she can to support the staff, students and families of the school district.
