McCann Weighed Options, Knew it Was Time to Go

The hallway in Joseph McCann's Caldwell home might just be worn out by now.

As the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education president paced back and forth over the past month, he considered how to manage time with his family, the growing demands of his district sales manager's position with General Electric and his spot on the school board where he's served for the past six years.

But the juggling act was too much to handle.

As first reported Monday night, the 42-year-old McCann announced at the conclusion of his president's report during Monday night's public meeting that he will not seek a third term in this year's election.

"I've been thinking about it probably since the New Year," McCann said Tuesday. "For the past four weeks or so, I've been weighing the pros and the cons and believed at this point this is the best decision for me and my family."

McCann, whose family includes three children, ages 12, 9 and 7, was first elected to the board in 2004. He was appointed vice president for the 2007-08 school year and has served as president since May 2008.

But the increasing overnight travel requirements of his job with GE, where he's worked for the past 12 years, combined with his family commitments have put a strain on continuing to serve on the board.

"For me, it was a very difficult decision," McCann said at the public meeting. "I think a lot of it was just the sign of the times. All of us, no matter what you do for a living, you're pulled in 10 different directions. I'm doing a lot more overnight travel now, which is something I don't particularly enjoy, but it's part of my job. I just felt it would be unfair to my family, my job and to this board to seek a third term when I could not give 100 percent to all three."

The winter months when the board defines a budget for the next academic year have been the hardest for McCann to handle.

"The schedule really varies," he said Tuesday. "It's obviously really busy this time of year, with the summer generally being pretty quiet. But this is the time of year when it gets pretty crazy with setting the budget for the next year."

With the economic downturn, creating a budget that meets all of the district's needs has recently become more of an arduous process since McCann first joined the board. Following Monday night's public meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss how the 2010-11 budget will affect district personnel.

"I'd have to say the biggest change is how money has gotten tighter and tighter," he said. "It's become more of a difficult process to put a budget together that saves money and is able to keep the same level of services."

It's a challenge now awaiting a new candidate.

In addition to McCann, the term of Vice President Rosanne Hansen also expires on April 30. Hansen, the board's senior member who was first elected in 2001, has not yet announced if she is seeking re-election. 

McCann urged interested residents Monday night to file before the March 1 deadline to run for his vacated seat and three-year term in the April 20 election, which the state may push back to November, according to Board Administrator and Secretary Ronald Skopak.

"We do have a community full of intelligent, caring and level-headed people," McCann said. "It's my hope that perhaps there's someone out there who would be interested in running for the school board. It's certainly worth it. It's a great experience."