The board began the meeting by announcing the results of the recent elections held on November 5, 2024, with Mr. Baldofsky, Mr. Elia, and Mr. Santana elected to three-year terms. These new members were sworn in. A subsequent election for the board’s leadership positions saw Julie Mahan elected as president after a divided vote among members, while Mr. Baldofsky secured the role of vice president following a nomination and majority vote.

The election of Mahan as president was not without controversy. Public comments revealed concerns about board conduct and ethics, particularly raised by Miss Felich, who shared her experiences of emotional distress attributed to interactions with the board president. Felich expressed fear for her physical safety and criticized the board’s decision to elect a leader she felt contributed to a hostile environment. She highlighted past incidents, including public insults from a former board member, emphasizing the need for a change in board dynamics.

Concerns about inclusivity were echoed by another speaker who advocated for a more inclusive leadership process and requested rescheduling of the September board meeting, which coincided with the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah. The speaker proposed adjusting the meeting date to accommodate members observing the holiday.

A central theme of the meeting was communication with the Fair Lawn community, particularly in light of the impending closure of The Herald News. The board debated the appropriate venue for advertising public meeting notices, considering alternatives like the Fair Lawn Community News and The Star Ledger, as well as the potential of online platforms like Top News and Patch. Concerns were raised about the effectiveness and coverage of these outlets, with some members skeptical of the community newspaper’s reach and relevance. This prompted a motion to shift meeting advertisements from The Herald News to the Fair Lawn Community News, although the motion faced opposition and was not unanimously supported.

Further discussions focused on expanding the existing mailing list to include community members beyond parents and students. This initiative aimed to enhance transparency and engagement by allowing residents to sign up for email notifications about school meetings and events. The board acknowledged previous efforts to integrate school meeting announcements into the town’s mailing list, which had seen some success in broadening communication reach.

In addition, the board considered legislative changes affecting publication notice requirements for meetings, with a temporary relief bill set to expire on March 1st. Members discussed transitioning to electronic notices as a more effective means of reaching the community, acknowledging the increasing importance of digital communication over traditional print media.

This was accompanied by a review of the regular board meeting schedule.

Public comments were limited but highlighted ongoing communication challenges. One resident lamented the lack of updated information on digital signs previously used to announce board meeting dates, while another pointed to the role of PTAs in disseminating meeting information. These comments underscored the need for improved visibility and effectiveness of communication channels within the community.