Wyckoff Board Of Education Elections Moving To April

WYCKOFF, NJ — A recent decision by the Township Committee to shift Board of Education elections to April has caused anger and confusion, and stirred discussions about the motives of the move.

The Board issued the decision in August, and it was immediately followed by accusations of political motivations, and an online petition by residents to stop the transition.

At the Aug. 17 meeting of the council, a majority voted in support of the move. A statement issued a few days later tried to explain the logic of doing so, and addressed some points of criticism.

For starters, the committee members say the move allows for "every Wyckoff voter to vote on the proposed Board of Education budget for 2022." Additionally, the members wrote that the shift will "truly make it a nonpartisan election."

The latter point addresses a statement by Board of Education President Robert Francin, who told NorthJersey.com that the move was "highly political" and will "adversely affect the quality of education in Wyckoff."

Francin said the school board wasn't consulted, and he isn't the only one with gripes about involvement in recent decisions.

Committee member Timothy Shanley said he wasn't informed that a statement would be issued by the township. That statement was only signed by four committee members, including Mayor Melissa Rubenstein.

"I as a elected member of the TC was not consulted, was not given the courtesy of an advanced copy and found out about the statement when you all did and when the Wyckoff clerk forwarded me an e-mail sent to her by the mayor asking that it be posted on the Township Web Site," Shanley said.

In a lengthy Facebook post which he shared "as a result of inaccuracies in their statement," Shanley shared his opinions about the decision. He was the only dissenting vote.

Read the full Township Committee statement on the decision here.