Board Member Resigns Over Mask, Vaccine Mandates At Basking Ridge Schools

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A Bernards Township School Board member resigned on Monday night due to the mandates regarding masking and vaccines in the school system.

Jennifer Korn, who served on the Board of Education since 2017, announced her resignation during the Dec. 20 meeting.

"The reason I can no longer serve on the board has everything to do with mandates imposed by Governor Murphy's executive orders. I do implore all those against them to raise their voices in unison," said Korn.

Korn went on to specifically criticize the mask and vaccine mandates.

"The forced masking of children is morally wrong and in my opinion, it's akin to child abuse for some of them," said Korn.

Fellow board members thanked Korn for her service and her ability to never hold back. None of the board members addressed her comments on masking or vaccines.

Additionally, school board member Lauren Beckman, who was not at the meeting, also resigned.

Board President Karen Gray said Beckman "mentioned family reasons" for her reasoning for resigning.

Both resignations were effective as of Monday, Dec. 20.

As a result of these two resignations, the school board announced a search for new applicants for the vacant seats.

Successful candidates would begin serving on the Bernards Township Board of Education from the time they are sworn in on Jan. 24, 2022 through the remainder of calendar year 2022.

Interested applicants must contact Jennifer Nicholson at the Board of Education Office at 908-204-2600 x 106 or via email at jnicholson@bernardsboe.com in order to request an application packet.

The completed application packets must be submitted by 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7.

A committee made up of members of the Board of Education will review applications and select candidates to be interviewed at the Jan. 24 Board of Education meeting. Consequently, applicants must be available to attend the Board of Education meeting at Ridge High School on Monday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.

The successful candidate will be sworn in during the Board meeting on Jan. 24 and begin serving
immediately.

Should the successful candidate wish to serve on the Bernards Township Board of Education beyond calendar year 2022 they must file with the Somerset County Clerk’s office to run in the November 2022 election for the remaining one year of Jennifer Korn’s term resulting from this vacancy or for a three-year term.

Applications to run in the November 2022 election are due in the Somerset County Clerk’s office by 4 p.m. on Monday, July 25, 2022.

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