January 25, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Mahwah Three seats will be available on school board by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah School District will have three, three-year terms on the board of education available in this year’s school board election, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17. The current terms of Christine Davis, John F. Dolan, and Candace Larson will all expire this spring unless the school board decides to move the election to November, which it can do as a result of recently-passed state legislation that Governor Chris Christie signed last week. The new law provides local school boards with the option of moving the school board election from April to November while eliminating the annual vote on any school budget that is at or below the state mandated two percent cap on the increase in the local tax levy. The measure also provides the municipal governing body with the option of passing a resolution to move the school board election to November, or it can be done by referendum via a petition signed by 15 percent of the voters who participated in the previous general election for president of the United States. The board recently discussed the pros and cons of the new legislation, but took no action on changing the date of the election. Until and unless that happens, the incumbent board members and any other potential candidates may pick up petitions at the school board office located behind the high school and adjacent to the Joyce Kilmer Elementary School at 100 Ridge Road. Anyone interested in seeking election to the board of education must complete his or her petition and file it with the school board secretary no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27. The petitions must contain the signatures of at least 10 qualified voters who live within the district, one of which may be that of the candidate. School board candidates must be U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years of age, are registered to vote, and have resided in the school district for at least one year. Candidates must also be able to read and write. Neither Davis nor Larson responded to requests seeking information about their intentions in the upcoming election. Dolan advised that he is leaning toward seeking another term, but has not yet made that decision. “I would feel much better leaving the board knowing that an outstanding superintendent was in place,” Dolan said. “I was on the board when we appointed Charlie (Montesano) and I feel that experience would be very helpful to the district.” Montesano retired from the district in July 2011 after a 37-year career in education. Dr. Karen Lake, who retired in 2007 as superintendent of schools in Hillsborough, is currently serving the district as an interim superintendent. Dolan currently chairs the school board’s Finance Committee and is a member of the Facilities Committee. He is a (continued on page 23)