Hillsborough BOE President Insists On Civility, Respect For 2020

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — It was a bit tense at the Hillsborough Township Public School reorganization meeting on Monday night. Board members were at odds when electing a president and vice president for 2020.

The meeting began with incumbents Jean Trujillo and Gregory Gillette and newcomer John Oliver being sworn into office. All three edged out Paul Marini and Joyce Eldridge-Howard in the November election.

There were three nominations for Board President with board members shouting out their choices. Trujillo nominated Gillette, Lisa Maroun nominated Dr. Lorraine Soisson and Gillette nominated Trujillo.

A vote elected Soisson as board president with all voting yes expect for Gillette, Trujillo and Jane Staats.

When it came time for nomination for vice president, Trujillo immediately nominated Staats. However, Soisson interjected and implemented a new rule where board members were asked not shout out but instead raise their hand first.

"I would recommend that for record for next year that we buy buzzers like on Jeopardy and practice buzzing in," Gillette said. "Because this is ridiculous that we are just going to make up the rules to raising a hand or calling out first. Let's just get some buzzers and do it. We'll get Alex Trebeck to come if he is still alive next year. This is sad."

Soisson responded to Gillette's suggestion and explained why she implemented the hand raising rule.

"I think one of the points I would like to see happen — which I expressed to everyone on the phone who gave me their time — was that I think our board, in order to be highly effective, has to be respectful of one another," Soisson said. "Which means raising a hand, getting recognized by the chair.... and so while I understand that this is a very odd situation what I am going to insist on is civility whenever there is discourse here whether with board members or the public and the board... What I am trying to avoid is popcorn moments. Those moments when people sit in front of their computer and watch our board behave badly."

Three people made nominations for vice president. Maroun nominated Christopher Pulsifer, Gillette nominated Staats and Trujillo also nominated Staats. Pulsifer was the majority winner and elected vice president with Gillette, Oliver, Staats and Trujillo voting no.

One other topic of discussion at the meeting included the 2020-21 school calendar. Gillette noted that he didn't like school starting before Labor Day and if it did it should start on Monday, Aug. 31 instead of on Thursday, Sept. 3 in the middle of the week.

He also noted how graduation and the last day of school are falling on a Monday again, this time on June 21, 2021. He said this would cause issues with students who may be attending or throwing parties the weekend before causing some to miss out on graduation.

"The purpose of having graduation on a Monday was because that was the only date we could get at the [Rutgers Athletic Center]. A lot of that is due to the lateness developing the calendar due to negotiations with teachers," said Soisson. "It's unfortunate it will fall on a Monday two years in a row."

She went on to note that the board didn't want to rock the boat with teachers by asking them to start before Sept. 1 due to negotiations.

The calendar ended up being passed with everyone voting in favor, except for Gillette.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.