Two newly re-elected school board members and one newcomer were sworn into office and board officers were chosen at the Lawrence Township Public Schools Board of Education’s reorganization meeting Jan. 2.
Jo Ann Groeger, Olga Martinez and Kevin Van Hise were sworn into office for a three-year term. Groeger and Van Hise have served since 2011. Martinez was elected to the school board in November 2024.
School board member Michele Bowes was appointed to serve as school board president. Amanda Santos was appointed to serve as the school board vice president. The term is for one year.
Bowes said she was thrilled to be elected to a second term as the school board president.
“I want to express my deep gratitude for the journey that we are taking together,” Bowes told her colleagues. “We have so much going on in the coming year and I could not be more privileged and honored to have board members like you.”
In other business, the school board adopted a resolution approving a $98.9 million bond referendum to be voted on at a special election March 11.
The bond referendum calls for additions and renovations to Lawrence Middle School, plus renovations, upgrades and improvements to athletic facilities at Lawrence High School.
The State of New Jersey will pick up the tab for 40% of the debt service incurred as a result of the bond. The school district also will use $4 million of capital reserves for the project.
At least two meetings will be held to outline the bond referendum for residents.
A community conversation has been set for Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lawrence High School media center for Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School families, Bowes said.
A second meeting, billed as a town forum, has been set for Feb. 4 at the Lawrence Middle School auditorium. It is open to all residents, whether or not they have children enrolled in the school district.
“Both of those meetings will be a great opportunity for us to present things about what’s going on and to answer questions and clear up misconceptions about the bond referendum,” Bowes said.
