Gloucester Twp. School Board Race Vote Counting Resumes Wednesday

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — The race for three open seats on the Gloucester Township K-8 School District Board of Education remains undecided as of 11 p.m. Tuesday night, county officials said.

The Camden County Board of Elections will resume its count on Wednesday morning, Camden County Spokesman Dan Keashen said Tuesday night. When counting paused on Tuesday, Mary Ann Johnson, Mary Jo Dintino and Ellen Reese were the leading vote getters in a field of seven candidates, according to unofficial results posted on the county's website.

Johnson had 8,962 votes, followed by Dintino with 8,308 votes and Reese with 8,277. Jose Fontanez was fourth with 7,601 votes, followed by Linda Gilch (7,246), Eleanor "Patti" Senner (6,070) and Joanne Rossell (5,852).

There were 207 write-in votes, and 52,523vote-by-mail ballots had been counted. No provisional ballots have been counted as of Tuesday night.

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Two incumbents were among this year's field of 10, including Board President Dintino and Board Member Johnson. Dintino, Senner and Fontanez ran as one ticket, with an eye toward improving student achievement.

"The district has invested wisely in modern curriculums for math and literacy resulting in test scores that have steadily improved over each of the last five years," they said. "By continuing to invest in our students and staff and providing them the necessary tools to succeed we will continue to build on the above average test scores that have been realized."

Johnson prides herself on her independence, and said she is proud of the things she has accomplished during her time on the board, which has lasted nearly six years.

"There is still more that needs to be done," said Johnson, noting Pay to Play specifically. "I will vote my conscience to employ companies that are the best for the district rather than just ones that donate to political parties."

Gilch and Reese were longtime board members seeking a return to the board.

Gilch served for 16 years on the board, and she believes every child should have the chance to learn. She said it is especially important for children to be engaged and learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"We need to make sure that we as a district are providing all the resources needed to families and staff who are teaching our children," Gilch said. "While I can't make any promises on how I can change things, I can only make sure that opportunities are always going to be there for every child."

In addition to her time with the Board of Education, Reese was a Commissioner in Gloucester Township Fire District No. 3 and currently serves as that board's secretary. She is also concerned about seeing the schools get through the pandemic.

"As a Board of Education member, I would budget conservative. Academically teachers are doing a great job coupled with parental support," Reese said. "However, I am concerned that the quick March exit to all remote, combinations of hybrid and remote currently doesn't work as well for all students and may cause an achievement gap. As a Board of Education member, I would ensure teachers are given all the tools/professional development they need to continue to challenge each student. I would support enrichment opportunities for all students."

The winners will be sworn in come January, shortly after the board swears in its newest member. Jasmine Robinson was recently appointed to fill the remainder of Carolyn Grace's term, after Grace was appointed to Township Council. She will be sworn in after undergoing a background check, and the board could have a drastically different look in 2021.

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