Six Candidates Running for Three Open Seats on School Board

Just before the 4 p.m. submission deadline Tuesday, March 8, a sixth—and final—school board candidate application was submitted.

By 4 p.m., six applicants had applied to run for the three open seats on Collingswood Public School District's Board of Education this year.

Each of the three open seats carries a three-year term. 

Of the six candidates, two are incumbents—the board's current vice president, Joan E. Smith, and current member Fiona Henry. Both women, whose terms expire this year, are seeking re-election.

The remaining four candidates are newcomers this year—district residents Madalyn Deets, Claire Gustafson, Timothy O'Neill and Harry Hart.

Voters elect an 11-member board, which is composed of nine Collingswood residents. The remaining two board members are representatives of Collingswood Public School's sending districts—one member is an Oaklyn resident, the other a Woodlynne resident.

Following election day, the district's newly elected board selects its own president and vice president from within.

And unless any changes are made—the current and final 2011 candidates have until March 14 to withdraw from the election—the six-member lineup will be competing for three open seats.

Smith and Henry, who are seeking re-election, account for two of the three open seats. The third seat belongs to current Collingswood Board of Education President Louis Cappelli Sr., who has not chosen to run for reelection when his term expires.

Of the six candidates running, only incumbent Fiona Henry was able to be reached by Collingswood Patch. The 43-year-old currently works as a Gloucester County College instructor, her employer since 2004. Henry's three children attend Collingswood Middle and High Schools.

Henry was appointed to Collingswood's Board of Education in 2010 to fill a vacant seat's remaining term. Previously, she's served as both treasurer and president of Sharp Elementary School PTA. Presently, she acts as treasurer of the middle school PTA, and is a current Elementary Education Committee member.

With six candidates now nominated, the election process resumes at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 17, in the district administration office—located at 200 Lees Ave. in Collingswood. District officials will hold a drawing to determine the order in which candidate's names will appear on voter ballots.

And on Wednesday, April 27, district residents will cast their votes. This year, votes may be cast in any of four designated polling locations. Polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. at all four locations:

• Zane-North Elementary School—801 Stokes Ave., Collingswood
• Collingswood Community Center—30 West Collings Ave., Collingswood
• Scottish Rite Auditorium Ballroom—315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood
• Collingswood Public Library—771 Haddon Ave., Collingswood