Who's Running For Secaucus School Board In 2026

SECAUCUS, NJ — The deadline to submit a petition to run for school board in New Jersey was last Monday, July 27.

There are three seats on the Secaucus school board up for election this year. Longtime Secaucus school board members Lance Bartletta, Mary Eccles and Joe Lewis all decided not to seek re-election this year.

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Who's running:

Anthony Graniere - He has a child in the district. He often speaks at school board meetings.

Katherine Nguyen - A recent graduate of Secaucus High School, class of 2024. She ran track and played soccer in high school. She is currently enrolled in college at Rutgers. Does not have children in the district.

Dina Khiry Gerbasio - Has children in the district. She is a niece of Councilman John Gerbasio. Like Graniere, she has spoken at school board meetings.

Voters will be asked to choose three, so it's not a competitive election this year, since three candidates seek three seats.

Bartletta, Lewis and Eccles were on the school board for years. Bartletta is stepping down because he no longer has children in the district, and Eccles is moving out of town.

Once Graniere and Gerbasio are elected to the board in January, they are expected to form a coalition with sitting board members Gerald Lyons, Tatiana Geller and Melissa Howard. Those three ran as a slate two years ago to get elected to the Secaucus school board.

Interim Secaucus school superintendent Dr. Mark Toback announced in May the Secaucus school district is in a budget deficit that is predicted to get bigger every year. The school tax levy for Secaucus homeowners increased 7 percent in 2026, and there are expected to be future tax hikes and budget cuts at the tiny Secaucus school district in 2027 and 2028.

Secaucus School District Is In Budget Crisis, Unveils 3-Year Financial Plan (May 1)

The school board election will be Nov. 3.