Richard Coangelo, an Atlantic Highlands resident, one of the nine newly elected board members on the Henry Hudson Regional PK-12 Board of Education, was elected president and Highlands resident Sue Thomas was elected vice-president at the board’s organization meeting Monday night.
Both votes were by a 5-4 vote of the PK-12 Board of Education.
Cory Wingerter, who was elected by the interim board which had been named to serve until the November election determined the first elected board, was defeated after being nominated for president, and Diane Knox was defeated for the vice presidency, after she was nominated for that post. Both had served on the interim board, Wingerter from Atlantic Highlands and Knox from Highlands.
The elections took place after all nine members were sworn into terms of one to three years by business administrator Janet Sherlock, who explained the election had indicated different term lengths to ensure elections of members each year rather than as happens for the new board.
Elected to three year terms last November election were Atlantic Highlands residents Kozic, Wingerter, and Suzanne Thomas, to two year terms, Justin Thomas of Atlantic Highlands, and Diane Knox and Rebecca Wells of Highlands, and to one year terms, Coalangelo, and Allison Burel and Regina Melnyk of Highlands.
Melnyk raised the question during the public portion of why Knox, Wells and Wingerter were listed as serving on the board in 2024, and the other six members serving since 2025 this is the first meeting when all nine members were elected for the first time to the PK-12 Board. She noted the three only served on the transitional board, not elected. Board attorney Jonathon Busch explained that since they were serving on the transitional board it would be the same as serving on the elected board.
Although the board had no other business on its agenda, including setting regular meeting nights, times, or location, retaining professionals, or naming the newspapers in which they would place the legal advertising for this and future meetings, meetings, in response to a question from an Atlantic Highlands resident Coangelo said the next meeting will be January 22 at 7 p.m. at Henry Hudson Regional School and it would be advertised, but declined to say in which newspaper. The resident also expressed the hope the board would act to put the question of regionalization with Sea Bright on the ballot so the voters in the district can make a decision on the matter.
