Hopatcong School Board Member Leaves After 16 Years

Proudly outspoken, school board member Joan Reilly attended the last Board of Education meeting on Monday of her 16-year tenure.

She accepted gift and well-wishes from the board and the applause from the audience, and then said she might run for an open seat next November.

Reilly was defeated for another 3-year term in November by Judith Antonelli, who will be sworn into office in January along with incumbents Clifford Lundin and Dolores Krowl.

Reilly was an active volunteer on many local boards and services.

“It was an honor to serve you for these 16 years, Reilly said. “I was always outspoken. You know how I feel.”

Lundin said he first met Reilly in 1973 when he was running for Borough Council, and visited her to examine an erosion problem in her yard.

“She has always been outspoken about education,”  Lundin said. “She acted to do what was best for the borough schools.”

The board also reviewed the annual budget  audit for the 2011-2012 school year

The auditors from Nicivoccia said there were no procedural flaws or errors in the district’s budget process.

The audit outlined the 2012 budget plan.

The district had  a $39.1 million budget for the 2011-2012, and raised $22.6 million through local taxes.  The district spent $9.8 million on regular instruction and $4.5 million on special education instruction.  Pupil transportation cost $1.9 million, it cost $4.1 million to operate and maintain the schools and school properties and the district budgeted $8.99 million for benefits.

Lundin said that there will be a public meeting on the start of a search for a replacement for Superintendent Charles Maranzano at 7 p.m. Jan. 10 at the high school.

Maranzano is retiring at the end of the current school year in June.

Lundin said the meeting will be conducted  by the New Jersey School Board’s Association, which is advising the district on its search.