Sussex-Wantage school board reorganizes

SUSSEX BOROUGH — Three new members of the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District Board of Education were sworn into office on Thursday, Jan. 7.

Re-elected members Robert Heiden and Thomas Card, and write-in winner Ken Nuss were given the Oath of Office by Borough Clerk Christina Riker.

Card was re-elected as the school board president 5-1, with two abstentions. School board member Robert Heiden voted no. He stated that Card has given many years as a public servant, and it was time for a change. However, Heiden also said he will still support Card as president.

School board members Bob Maikis and Ken Nuss both abstained.

Next, School Board member Lisa Frisbie was elected as the School Board Vice President 6–1. Once again, Heiden voted no but explained that he will support Frisbie.

“She is conflicted, and it is not in the best interest of the students and taxpayers who need to be represented in a stronger extent,” Heiden said.

Frisbie currently works at High Point High School.

Nuss abstained.
School Board members Walter Krynicky and Daniel Wask said they want to keep using the whole board format to run the district as opposed to using a format that calls for separate subcommittees.

Frisbie and Nuss said they would like to decide after the board receives ethics training at the Jan. 28 public meeting. Students also will make presentations at the meeting.

Mezier said she preferred the committee as a whole, while using subcommittees whenever necessary.

Heiden said he would like to continue in the committee as a whole format, with more information, so the board can have more input into finance/the budget and the curriculum. He would also like to see Maikis have more of a hand in an ad hoc finance committee.

Card explained that with a sub committee system, the board would need to put “more time in.” The committee system as a whole works, but they need a little more information at the work sessions.

“With sub committees, sometimes meetings would last until 11 p.m.,” he said.

The board approved Maikis, Mezier and Waslk to be members of the Administrative Negotiations Committee. Mezier will serve as the chairperson.

Nuss, Mezier and Frisbie will be on the Policy Committee.