Unity Emphasized As New Members Sworn In To Lacey School Board

LACEY, NJ — The Lacey Township Board of Education's reorganization meeting held Thursday was a much different sight than the one the year prior.

At the 2022 meeting, board member Salvatore Armato's refusal to wear a mask to his swearing in led to then-Board President Frank Palino's filing of charges against him and four others for disorderly conduct.

But 2023 kicked off with a friendlier display, as the two men joked with each other. Palino even nominated Armato to serve as vice president for the year, though it was unsuccessful.

"If you don't think this board has come together in the last year and worked together, look who's sitting between me and Mrs. Armato," Armato said, referencing how Palino sat between him and his wife, Cheryl Armato, who was sworn in as a new board member that evening. "And we don't even have our hands around his neck."

Newcomers Cheryl Armato and Jack Conaty were sworn in along with longtime board member Linda Downing, who was selected as the board's president for 2023. Harold "Skip" Peters was chosen as vice president.

Downing said her goal as president was to have the board work together.

"You can see it's already starting that way," she said, and emphasized that she would make communication a priority.

The Board of Education will meet for their next regular meeting on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.