TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—The 2022 president and a regular member of the board of the Westwood Regional School district, both from the township and with time left in their terms, have quit the board.
Frank Romano III and Maureen Colombo tendered their resignations in late December 2022. Romano’s term expires 2024; Colombo’s expires this Dec. 31. The moves come after the Nov. 8 election, which saw two incumbents ousted and one not seeking re-election, and ahead of the nine-member board’s annual reorganization meeting, Jan. 5.
In letters to the editor, this issue, Romano and Colombo express gratitude for their support and experiences, and both share their official resignation letters.
Romano rose to president in 2022, after six months on the board, when the previous president, also from the township, left under fire over a note he’d issued on behalf of the board thanking the former district superintendent for his service and apprising the community of next steps in the replacement search process.
Romano, an ex-officio member on board committees, told Pascack Press on Dec. 28, 2022 that he resigned on Dec. 22 and that “It feels only right that I share my letter with those whom I’ve represented for the past four years, especially those who have supported me during the past two elections and throughout my service.”
He said, “As I hope you will gather, my reason for leaving the board prior to the end of my second term has less to do with the challenges that come with a seat on our board and more to do with the need to balance and prioritize responsibilities. It has been an honor to serve our school community.”
Romano was reelected on Nov. 2, 2021, 64% to 35%, over challenger James Schembari. Romano is an experienced educator and a retired superintendent.
Colombo, 2022’s chair of the policy and governance committee, was New Jersey School Counselor Association’s Bergen County Counselor of the County for 2021.
She gave no specific reason for stepping down in her letter to the editor or attached letter of resignation. She apologized for her early departure and added in part, “I appreciate the community members who elected me and I want to thank them, as well as [superintendent] Dr. [Jill] Mortimer, Dr. Romano, Mr. Rosado and the other BoE members for this valuable experience in serving the district for the past two years. I wish everyone luck and continued success in the new year.”
(See “Maureen Colombo is county’s top school counselor for ’21,” Pascack Press, April 17, 2021.)
Asked to comment on these developments, Mortimer told Pascack Press, “Both Mrs. Colombo and Dr. Romano were highly valued members of the board of education. They worked tirelessly for the students of this district, and much was accomplished during their tenure on the board. They will be missed.”
Meanwhile, three other departing trustees were honored for their service to Westwood Regional School District Board of Education, the K-12 school district serving families in Westwood and Washington Township.
Two of the trustees lost reelection Nov. 8.
Honored in December with plaques and proclamations were Westwood’s Roberta Hanlon (18 years of service) and Michelle Sembler (three years of service), and the Township of Washington’s Joseph McCallister (one year of service).
(See “School board honors Hanlon, Sembler, McCallister,” Pascack Press, Dec. 26, 2022.)
During his year-end-meeting update, Rosado confirmed the official Nov. 8 election results. He said in the township, one three-year term went to Douglas Cusato with 1,737 votes, versus 1,462 votes for Joseph McCallister.
In Westwood, two open seats for three-year terms went to Jason Garcia, with 1,940 votes, and Laura Cooper, with 1,803. Sembler rallied 1,699 votes.
Applicants sought
The district’s Dec. 22 post seeking applicants for Romano’s seat was later amended to seek applicants for two township seats.
Interested individuals must be registered voters in the Township of Washington. Send a resume and letter of interest describing your interest in serving on the board no later than Jan. 17 to Keith A. Rosado, board secretary, Westwood Regional Board of Education, 701 Ridgewood Road, Township of Washington, NJ 07676 or via email at keith.rosado@wwrsd.org. Call Rosado at (201) 664-0880 ext. 2004 with questions.