Bev Cwerner Fills Vacant School Board Seat

After hearing two applicants on Monday describe why each felt qualified to fill a temporary board position lasting through December, most members voted to select a former member, Beverly Darvin Cwerner, to rejoin them.

While Cwerner gained the majority of school board votes to complete the last few months of the term of former Board Member Susan Carlsson, board members Michael Byrne and Priti Shah abstained. Resident Louis D'Autorio also was interviewed for the position.

During the public interview process, Cwerner said she felt her strongest qualification is that as a former board member who worked on many board committees in tasks, she said her experience will one again be able to fulfill school board tasks in a variety of areas.

"It's an unprecedented time of transition in the district," Cwerner said, less than a month before the pending retirement of School Superintendent Valerie Goger and Assistant Superintendent Regina Rudolph. She said her background will allow her to "hit the ground running" on certain issues and in many areas of board responsibility.

"I am happy to be back," Cwerner said on Monday. "I am committed to serving our students and continuing our tradition of excellence in student achievements.

Cwerner also is one of four candidates seeking three available school board positions, coming up in 2013, in a vote on the November ballot.

Cwerner was narrowly voted out of office in a nine-way race for four school board seats that took place last March. Her photo finish recount with Shah resulted in a re-examination of the results and a court ruling confirming Shah's win.

The other applicant interviewed at Monday's meeting for the board position through 2012 was D'Autorio a former Basking Ridge Fire Co. volunteer and local business owner.

Additionally, D'Autorio is one of

D'Autorio said he believes that every citizen should volunteer to serve. He also said that students should receive the best education possible in a cost-effective manner.

Current board members Robin McKeon and Audrey Cohen Sherwyn also have filed for re-election for additional terms on the board.

The shorter-term vacancy filled Monday night was created when former , after serving for six years. Although she had moved out of town, Carlsson attended Monday night's meeting.