More Changes to Mendham Township BOE

Superintendent Kristopher Harrison’s leaving at the end of the school year is not the only change coming to the Mendham Township Board of Education. Long-time board member Rick Pappalardo has chosen not to run for another term of service, leaving incumbent Andrew Christmann and newcomer Fion Wood to run for the two available seats in the April 17 election.

Wood came to Mendham Township in 2007, but was born in New Zealand and settled in United States in 1998 after two decades of living abroad. Having worked in engineering and recruitment in the past, Wood has been a stay-home-Dad since his eldest soon, now in seventh grade, was born.  

“My engagement within the community has been primarily through the schools, where I have been actively involved in the Mendham Township Home and School Association.” Wood said. “I was on the HSA board for two years until last June.”  

 Wood submitted his name for school board because he wanted to stay involved and actively contribute to the success of the schools. The fact that the election is uncontested this year is just an aberration.

“In the past it has been contested by multiple candidates and there is no reason to believe that in the future it won't be contested again,” Wood said. “I can't really say why no one else chose to run this year.”

Wood knows exactly what he is taking on, having attended meetings and worked with several members of the board of education. One of the primary concerns facing the board is the eminent loss of the very popular Harrison.

“The loss of Kris Harrison is an issue that the Board of Education is going to need to focus on for the immediate future,” Wood said. “Unfortunately the board is going to have to operate under the new salary cap guidelines from the state and compete with many other districts in the same situation due to the resignations of many New Jersey superintendents over the last few months. Mendham Township should however be considered an exciting opportunity for an attractive superintendent candidate due to its high performing schools, dedicated staff and administration and very involved parent population. Hopefully the Board will be able to recruit someone that will be as effective as Mr. Harrison has been in his position as Superintendent.”

Beyond the immediate need of replacing Harrison, Wood acknowledges the declining enrollment population at the elementary school, understanding and planning for future levels of state funding, and the current discussions on the consolidation of school districts both at a local and state level are all things the board must tackle.

“Although I think the idea of sharing administrative and school services with the borough is one that should be actively pursued to create cost savings for both districts where possible, the reality of one superintendent answering to two Boards of Education with potentially different priorities would be a difficult proposition for anyone,” Wood said. “In the long term a single K thru 12 school district for Mendham incorporating both Borough and Township school districts as well as the High school would seem to make the most sense for consolidating services and give Mendham control over its own educational facilities. But when or if that will happen is anyone's guess.”

Wood served as the parent representative for the NJ QSAC state audit in 2010, and was part of the review committee for the redevelopment of the Social Studies curriculum and a member of the State of the Community team developing the five year strategic plan for the Mendham Township school district last year, affording him a good understanding of the schools' current strengths as well as the issues that Mendham Township will face in the future.

“My priority will be to ensure that parents and members of the community continue to be informed and involved in the development of education policy that will enhance and further improve the quality of education in Mendham Township,” Wood said.