Former Board of Education member to fill vacancy Robert Grimm will serve until April election

Former Board of Education
member to fill vacancy
Robert Grimm
will serve until
April election

NORTH BRUNSWICK — The Board of Education is finally back at full strength after operating with a vacancy for some time.

Middlesex County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Jean Guidette appointed former board member Robert Grimm, Seneca Drive, to serve the remainder of a three-year term that ends next April. The appointment was passed to Guidette when the board failed to reach a consensus on any of the candidates in the early part of September. The vacancy was created when board member Betty Schneider moved out of district.

Grimm previously served two three-year terms on the Board of Education, beginning in 1993. Grimm said he chose not to run for another three-year term on the board in 1999 due to personal reasons, but was still willing to put his name in for the temporary appointment. "The magnitude of the issues which need to be addressed in such a short period of time convinced me to come back," he said.

Grimm said that the issues which concerned him were the search for the new superintendent and the development of a five-year facilities plan in order to qualify for a piece of the $8.6 billion school construction bill, which includes $2.5 billion for regular districts like North Brunswick.

Acting Superintendent Bob Turco said that he was glad to see the vacancy finally filled. "I’m looking forward to working with him [Grimm]. His experience with facilities will help the board," said Turco. "I’m sure he will do an excellent job."

Grimm served on the board during the expansion of Linwood Middle School and several construction projects in the elementary schools. He said although he is willing to provide what interest and experience he already has to the board in the short term, "I do not intend to run for re-election in April at this point."

Grimm was among the six candidates for the vacancy which the board could not decide on. It split 4-4, with Grimm receiving four votes from board members Richard Novak, Frank Petrillo, Craig Rosevear and Kevin Williams; and Donna Machuski four votes from the other four board members. The other candidates were Donald Adams, Phyllis Giglio, Carol Pisacka and Howard Walker.

— Alison Granito