Beach Haven Board of Education member resigns, open vacancy submissions now being accepted

During the Beach Haven Board of Education meeting held Tuesday, Sept. 23, board President MaryLou Bellingeri announced the resignation of board member Amy Haig. The resignation letter stated that Haig needed more time with her family and that her “commute and full-time work are also very time-consuming.” The letter also mentioned that Haig missed the last two meetings due to “sailing-related travel with my daughters.”

The board accepted the resignation of Haig, who was elected last November and expected to serve until the 2016 term, Bellingeri told The SandPaper. During the meeting, it was stated that the county could fill the vacant seat if the board does not fill the spot within 65 days.

Photo via Asbury Park Press
Submissions for the open seat have been
advertised on the school's website.

“That’s not the position that I would advise any of my school districts to be in,” said Isabel Machado of Machado Law Group, who represents the board.

Whoever the board chooses to fill the seat most likely would maintain the position until next year’s election, Bellingeri said.

Adhering to current policy, submissions for the vacancy have been advertised on the school’s website and are now being accepted. Interested candidates must send a letter of interest to Lil Brendel, board secretary, 700 Beach Ave., Beach Haven, N.J. 08008. Interviews will be held and deliberated on by the board within the allotted 65 days.

The same process was conducted this past spring when former board member Dina Ranade resigned and Donna Kilcommons filled her spot, Bellingeri said.

During the meeting, the board also accepted the resignation of Tim Legendre, a physical education and health teacher as well as a part-time instructional aide. The group approved Mark Cummins, a recommendation by Superintendent EvaMarie Raleigh, to take his place.

Also during the meeting, Ship Bottom resident Stephanie Cecchini said Raleigh (who was absent from the meeting) asked her to attend to talk about her daughter, who is a School Choice student this year.

Cecchini thanked the board as well as the teachers and staff for “allowing my 11-year-old daughter to be a student here. She’s thriving beyond our wildest dreams.”

Cecchini said her daughter “experienced a lot of taunting and bullying at her former school,” causing her to suffer from weight loss and nightmares.

“We really appreciate the warm welcome you have all given her,” Cecchini stated.

During public comment, Long Beach Township resident Mary Claire Bunce said she received two letters from the board regarding her children’s eligibility to continue to attend the Beach Haven School as School Choice students. She said the issue has been open for more than a month and that she would like an answer.

Machado said the matter is not one the board could legally talk about at a public meeting but assured Bunce that they would discuss the matter.

After the meeting, Bellingeri told The SandPaper she would prefer not to talk about the issue since it is ongoing.

In other meeting news, it was announced that The Jetty Rock Foundation donated $5,000 to the school for iPads and Chromebooks.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.