Candidates Sought for Board of Ed Vacancy

The School District of the Chathams is seeking volunteer candidates to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of five-year board member Albert Burgunder this month.

Burgunder, a Chatham Township representative, resigned this month citing personal and professional reasons.

The board is expected to appoint a candidate to serve until voters elect a candidate to the remainder of Burgunder's term in the April school election.

Interested township residents can send their information to the School District of the Chathams, Attn: Board Secretary, 58 Meyersville Road, Chatham, NJ 07928. For more information call school business administrator and board secretary Peter Daquila at 973-457-2526.

"I encourage all who are interested, to contact the SDOC Office and participate in the process," Burgunder said in an announcement about his Nov. 1 resignation. "Being a Board member provides a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the community and become immersed in one of America’s most important Institutions, Public Education."

The nine-member school board is comprised of five township representatives and four borough representatives.

In April, voters will elect a candidate to serve the remaining year in Burgunder's term. Three, three-year seats also are up for vote, with Richard Connors, Kim Cronin and Jill Critchley Weber finishing their terms.

Burgunder said serving as an elected member of the board was an honor, and that he "stepped off the Board to address personal and professional interests."

Burgunder said during his tenure "the Board and Leadership team have overcome serious economic constraints, managed enrollment growth, preserved the community’s right to approve District budgets and overcame two major weather interruptions."

He also listed the following challenges he says face the district in the years ahead:

• Implementation of the Common Core Standards in the curriculum
• Professional staff development to enhance the quality of our educators
• Modernization of classrooms and facilities to complement the education program
• Planning for the 2% budget cap while preserving program quality