On Nov. 4, voters had a choice between the status quo and a new direction for the Robbinsville Board of Education. For the most part, status quo won.
Newcomer Rich Young and incumbents Sharon DeVito and Shaina Ciaccio each won three-year terms on the board, emerging from a field of five candidates. Young led all candidates with 1,521 votes, with DeVito receiving 1,517. Ciaccio earned 1,442 votes.
The Advance asked the winners for their reaction to the results, as well as their plans for their new term. Their responses follow:
Shaina Ciaccio wrote: I had many mixed reactions to the results when they were announced. My husband and I had suffered a personal loss a few weeks ago, and we are still grieving, so it was very hard to celebrate at first. But I was never more proud in my life to live in Robbinsville than on election night. The community outpouring of love and support has been so overwhelming, and we could not be more grateful. It has only strengthened my resolve and dedication to serve our residents and be the best board member I can be.
My first priority when the board meets is to welcome Rich as a new board member and start working together in an atmosphere of trust and collaboration. In addition, that is when we will begin the budget cycle process, so looking at the budget and seeing what is needed and what can be trimmed will also be a high priority for myself as a board member as well.
Sharon DeVito wrote: This was a vote of confidence in the strong Board of Education and administration we have in place, the good decisions we’ve made over the past five years, and the direction the district is moving. My first priority will be the same that it always is: collaborate with the administration and fellow board members to provide our students the education they deserve and our stakeholders expect.
Rich Young wrote: I’m grateful that a majority of residents believe I can be an effective member of the Board of Education. Clearly, our message of greater transparency, increased dialogue between the school system and the community and budgetary constraint resonated with voters. The fact that two incumbents were reelected to the board indicates that residents are not necessarily unhappy or dissatisfied with our schools. But one can not ignore the reality that a newcomer to the process was the top vote-getter, indicating the electorate wanted someone who’s supportive of our schools, but also wants to take a fresh look at the budget and the polices and programs impacting the student body.
