Giordano, Gavigan Re-elected to BOE Leadership Posts

Frank N. Giordano was unanimously re-elected President of the Vineland Board of Education Wednesday for the seventh consecutive year and Jacqueline Gavigan was re-elected vice-president at the annual re-organization meeting of the school panel.

Giordano and Gavigan were the only nominees for the leadership positions.

Giordano is now the board president with the most years of service since the school panel became an elected group in 1984. The only board president in modern history with more years of service was the late Eugene D. Barse, who was the group’s leader from 1961 to 1977.

Giordano had the most votes in the April 17 election, winning a new term along with fellow incumbent Allan Bernardini. Also gaining a seat on the board is Thomas Ulrich, successful in his first bid for office. Ulrich won the spot vacated by Jessica Deckard, who declined to run for another term.

The other members of the nine-person school board are Mayra Arroyo, Anthony Fanucci, Ron Franceschini, Jr., Paul Spinelli, and Christopher Snyder.

Administering the oath of office was Robert DeSanto, board solicitor.

“Words are not really enough to express my gratitude to my colleagues sitting here,” said Giordano after the unanimous vote. “It is a pleasure to lead this board, and you make it that way. Your input, your hard work and your dedication and your loyalty makes this job easy. I humbly accept your bestowing this leadership role on me. We will continue to have a productive school district because of you. Thank you very much.”

Giordano also thanked the voters for their support. “Everyone enjoys, every now and then, a pat on the back,” said Giordano. “To me, when the election comes up, and this is a fourth term for Mr. Bernardini and I, that pat on the back means so much.”

The board president also singled out two supporters who were members of the audience ---former board member and president Elaine Greenberg, and former principal, superintendent and board president Frank Gana.

Said Gavigan: “I would also like to thank my fellow board members. It means a lot to me that you have instilled your confidence in me to sit next to Frank for another year. It is a pleasure and certainly an honor. I look forward for our entire board to work well with our superintendent, Mr. Ottinger. We have a lot to do. Thank you again.”

“I would like to thank the public for voting for me with confidence again for this fourth term,” said Bernardini. “I really appreciate the support and assistance I received from so many people. I look forward to another three years of productivity from this board. We have a lot of cohesiveness here. We have a lot of good members who are working hard to do the best we can for the educational component of our students. Our main objective is to continually get the funding we need, build the schools and increase and improve security.”

“I want to thank everyone who supported me and for showing such confidence,” said Ulrich. “I really think I have a lot to offer, and can make a difference on this board. I think, as the years go by here with the term, I can really add to the already good Board of Education we have. I really look forward to working with everyone. I would especially like to thank Frank Giordano and Allan Bernardini for asking me to come along for the ride. I appreciate it. There is a lot to learn from these gentlemen and a lot to learn from everyone on the board. I really appreciate the chance to contribute to the community. Thank you."

The new board will hold its first official work session on May 2 at the district administration office building, 625 Plum Street. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.