Zangari Named BOE President, Longo, Freda, Sworn In

William Freda was nominated for, but declined, another term as president of the Belleville Board of Education last night during the board’s annual reorganization meeting, when new officers and members are installed.

Instead, Peter Zangari, who had been vice-president of the board, was appointed after he was nominated.  Both he and Patricia Pisano-Inaugurato, who was nominated for board vice president, were voted in unanimously by the board members present last night. Trustee Vincent Strumolo did not attend last night’s meeting.

Also last night, Freda and Joe Longo, who both won last seats in last week’s board of education election, were officially sworn in to 3-year terms. Both men begin their second consecutive terms on the board, after beating challengers Ralph Vellon and Eric Schartz.

Freda, who has served as president of the board since 2008, turned down another 1-year term in that post, citing upcoming work commitments that will take up much of his time. Later in the year he’ll be traveling to India on business, he said.

“I think it’s time we give someone else a chance,” Freda also said, before he nominated  Zangari.


The other board members present, as well as Superintendent of Schools Joseph Picardo, congratulated Longo  and Freda for their re-election. In turn, the other board members congratulated Zangari and Pisano-Inaugurato for their appointments to their new posts at the head of the board.

“You only campaign once. After that you’re running on your record,” said Zangari, alluding to Longo’s  and Freda’s re-election. Both men won by substantial margins, with Longo getting 1,177 votes and Freda receiving 1,139, according to a final, official tally read aloud by board business administrator Edward  Appleton. The challengers, Vellon and Schwartz, received 819 and 348 votes, repspectively.  

In his remarks, Longo said that he and Freda joined a “fractured board” three years ago, a situation that has vastly improved since then.

“Our first two years were very turbulent. We had board members who did not attend meetings, sometimes we had to postpone business because we did not have a quorum. We had three superintendents before we found Mr. Picardo, and then pow -- the economy crashed,” Longo said.

Longo and Freda also thanked their supporters and family members for their help during the last campaign.

Also last night, the board accepted the retirements of four teachers -- high school art teacher Kenneth Burde; ESL teacher Loraine Bray, who worked at School 3 and School 4; high school science teacher Matthew Swajkowski; and middle school science teacher David Stein.

The next meeting of the board will be May 16.