Over the last month, the state Senate has moved on a number of Gov. Chris Christie’s nominations to the State Board of Education. That movement continued over the past week with the Senate approving a replacement for the Board’s current president.
Last Thursday, the full Senate voted to approve Mary Elizabeth Gazi to replace Mark W. Biedron. Gazi resides in Bound Brook and is a partner of the law firm Dughi, Hewitt & Domalewski. Biedron has served on the State Board since 2011.
On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee released the nominations of what would be three new appointments to the Board. The following individuals now need the consent of the full Senate, which could occur as early as this Thursday, before taking their seats on the Board:
- Mary Beth Berry, of Clinton, to replace Robert P. Haney, Jr., resigned.
- Nedd James Johnson, Ed.D., of Pittsgrove, to replace Ilan Plawker, deceased.
- Joseph L. Ricca, Jr., Ed.D., of Morristown, to replace Claire Chamberlain Eckert, resigned.
In addition, on Monday, June 19, the state Senate confirmed the appointment of new member Kathy Goldenberg, of Moorestown, to replace Joseph Fisicaro, who was serving as board vice president.
Earlier this month the committee approved the re-appointment of the following individuals to succeed themselves on the State Board:
- Arcelio Aponte, of Piscataway.
- Ronald K. Butcher, Ph.D., of Glassboro.
- Jack Fornaro, of Mansfield Township.
- Ernest Lepore, Ph.D., of West New York.
- Andrew J. Mulvihill, of Andover.
Along with those re-appointments, the committee also approved the nomination of Sylvia Sylvia, of Ocean, to replace J. Peter Simon. Simon resigned from the board earlier this year. These six individuals still await a vote in the full Senate.
The State Board of Education will have a special meeting on Friday to select a president pro tem.