Schools
Two Board Members Will Not Seek Re-Election
Board President Rogalin and Turnbull to step down; Barna to run.
Four Chatham Board of Education seats will be contested in the April 20 school district vote.
Board member Steve Barna said he would run for re-election, but Board President Roger Rogalin and board member Heather Turnbull said they would not. The recent resignation of board Vice President Lora Yates has created a fourth opening.
Only Barna is a borough resident—the rest live in the township.
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Turnbull said in a short, prepared text that serving the residents of Chatham had been a privilege. She acknowledged her board colleagues, saying that she had learned from each of them and Superintendent Jim O'Neill.
"Passion for education starts at the top and can be witnessed throughout the district," she said.
Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Rogalin said that the board would miss Turnbull's contributions, calling her "one of the easiest board member to get along with." He then made it evident that he too was bowing out.
"I wrote out a statement, which is unusual for me," he said.
Rogalin said that he had worn many hats during his career in education but said that "serving on this board has been one of the most satisfying experiences in a long and ongoing career in education."
He is an educational consultant to school districts and corporations in the education business, and is seeking a position in education administration such as principal or assistant superintendent.
Rogalin has served as board president since his January 2009 selection following former Board President Richard Ford's resignation.
He said Chatham 's excellence in education is acknowledged throughout New Jersey, and said the district is among state's the most admired. He gave O'Neill much credit for building this reputation with skill and judgment.
"I have rarely worked with someone who works as hard for his constituents as Jim O'Neill," Rogalin said. "Serving has been a way of giving back to a community I've made home for 18 years.
Rogalin acknowledged his family's continued support, but says he "owes it to them and myself to focus my attentions elsewhere."
Applications for the vacancy created by Yates's resignation will be accepted until February 15, and her replacement is expected to be seated at the board's March 1 meeting. Full qualifications can be seen at http://www.chatham-nj.org/sdoc/site/default.asp.
