Gloucester Township Board Of Education Fills Vacant Seat

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - After interviewing half a dozen candidates on Monday night, the Gloucester Township K-8 School District Board of Education selected an accomplished member of the U.S. Air Force who serves with the Gloucester Township Economic Development Corporation as its newest member.

The school board elected Brian Hammell to fill the unexpired term of Brian Reagan by a vote of 6-2 at its meeting Monday night at the Charles W. Lewis Middle School.

Board President MaryJo Dintino, Vice President Mark Gallo and Board Members Joseph Angeloni, Carolyn Grace, Tracey Lynch and Anthony Marks voted in favor of the nomination.

The dissenting votes were cast by Board Member Jennifer O’Donnell, who nominated Melissa Seidel to fill the position, and Board Member Mary Ann Johnson, who seconded Seidel’s nomination.

In a separate vote, the school board voted against nominating Seidel by the same 6-2 vote before approving Hammell.

Hammell must undergo a criminal background check before being seated on the board. He will then serve through the end of the year. A special election to fill the remaining two years of the term will be held in November. During his interview Monday night, Hammell indicated he would be interested in running for the seat on a permanent basis.

The seat became vacant when Brian Reagan announced his resignation from the board last week. Read more here: New Gloucester BOE Member Submits Resignation.

In addition to Hammell and Seidel, longtime school board member Ellen Reese applied for the position. Reese served on the board for 15 years before losing in last year’s crowded Board of Education race. Read more here: Winners Emerge From Crowded Gloucester Township BOE Races

Linda Gilch, another longtime Board of Education member who was defeated in November, withdrew her name from consideration before Monday night’s interviews began. She said she wasn’t looking for a short-term position on the board, and she had some life events coming up that made her re-consider her decision to apply. She said she is interested in running for one of the open seats in November’s elections, though.

Overall, candidates consisted of longtime residents and parents of children in the district who cited the budget as a major issue facing the board. School budgets make up a large portion of the taxes facing residents, in both the K-8 district and the Black Horse Pike Regional School District.

In his interview, Hammell said curriculum development and the budget were major parts of a Board of Education member’s job, and that he would focus on “setting the children up for success,” as well as STEM, culture, the arts and extracurricular activities.

He has been a resident of the township for 10 years and has two daughters, one who will enter the school district in September. The other will begin school in the district in three years, he said.

“I am an Economic Development Professional with analytical, program management, and econometric experience; specifically, in the areas of strategic planning, community and economic development, and data analysis,” Hammell said.

He is an employee at TRIAD Associates in Vineland and is currently a flight chief with the 108th Wing, 204th Intelligence Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base.

He was appointed to the Gloucester Township Economic Development Corporation by Mayor David Mayer last year, where he is working on the revitalization of Downtown Blackwood. He is also working on developing the arts district, and conducted a fiscal impact analysis for new development in the township.

He has a Masters of Public Policy and Administration in Public Management from Rutgers University, and is pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy (ABD) in Public Affairs-Community Development. He expects to earn his degree from Rutgers in May.

He cites his experience with economic development and fiscal matters and his leadership as a member of the Air Force as his biggest assets in becoming the board’s newest member.