Board appoints Katie Lawler to fill Wall Township Board vacancy after executive session

After interviewing seven applicants for a single vacancy, the Wall Township Board of Education moved into executive session to deliberate and then returned to publicly nominate and vote on candidates.

The board first nominated Katie Lawler; a roll-call vote on her nomination produced five yes votes (Miss Adams, Mister Buffa, Mister Mallard, Mister Smith, Mister Wandre) and three no votes (Miss Barbier, Miss Bibby, Miss DiGiovanni). The chair announced that the motion carried and Katie Lawler was selected to fill the vacancy. Lawler came forward and repeated the oath of office, pledging to support the constitutions of the United States and the state of New Jersey and affirming she possessed the qualifications prescribed by law.

Earlier in the evening the board heard each candidate describe qualifications and priorities. Candidates emphasized topics such as long-term budgeting and referendum oversight, special-education supports, recruiting and retaining staff, technology and AI challenges, students’ social-emotional growth and community engagement. Several candidates identified the upcoming superintendent search and completion of referendum projects as priorities if appointed.

The board closed the meeting after reciting the New Jersey code of ethics for school board members and approving the consent agenda.