Two incumbent school board members and a newcomer have filed to run for three open seats on the Lawrence Township Public Schools Board of Education.
Incumbent school board members Michele Bowes and Arundel Clarke will be joined on the ballot by newcomer Mark Elliot. They filed nominating petitions by the July 27 deadline, and are running uncontested in the Nov. 3 general election.
The term is for three years.
Bowes said she is running for another term to continue the work of seeing the school district’s reconfiguration through to completion. She wants to ensure that the transition is successful and that the district’s finances are managed responsibly, following voter approval of $98 million bond referendum in 2025.
Voters approved the bond referendum to pay for expansion and renovations projects in conjunction with reconfiguring the grade layouts. The four elementary schools will hold pre-K to grade 2 students, and the Lawrence Intermediate School will become a grades 3-5 school. Lawrence Middle School will accommodate students in grades 6-8. Lawrence High School is unchanged.
Bowes said she is committed to providing thoughtful leadership, maintaining fiscal responsibility and making decisions that support the long-term success of the students. She wants to work to increase student success and foster a safe, healthy and inclusive learning environment.
“By working collaboratively with educators, families and community members, we can build on our progress and ensure every student has the opportunities and support they need to thrive,” she said.
Clarke said he is seeking reelection because he had the pleasure of serving the district through the bond referendum. He said he met people from different walks of life, and he would like to continue his growth with the district.
“My primary goal for the next three years is to continue my growth while serving the district, and maintain discussions with families as we work through the next stages of the building expansion,” Clarke said.
Elliott said he is running for a seat on the school board because the quality of the schools is important for both the students and the community. Through his regular attendance of school board meetings, he said he has developed an understanding about the work that goes into ensuring the success of students.
“A fundamental belief of mine is that when a community’s schools increase the quality of education for all of its students, all community members benefit. Better schools result in higher achieving students that have more opportunities after graduation,” Elliott said.
“In the next three years, I hope to improve the quality of education for our students and allow them to excel academically, whatever that means for each individual student. I also aim to develop a supportive and welcoming community environment for all students in the school district. This is key to allowing students to succeed academically,” he said.
In short, schools are the heart of every community and they are essential for every community member’s future social and economic benefit, Elliott said. Improving the schools will help Lawrence Township to grow.
