Michael Boone and Dominic Ferry have filed to run for one open seat on the Board of Education this November.
Both men, long-time Verona residents, have run for the BOE in the past. Boone finished fourth in last year’s election while Ferry finished second to Lisa Freschi in 2014. Freschi has decided, after winning multiple terms on the BOE and serving as its president, to not seek re-election this year.
“I’ve had the benefit of having my children go through the wonderful Verona school district,” Ferry said by text message. “As my children have gotten older and more self sufficient I find I have the time to dedicate to the Board and assure the district continues on this path. I feel my vast work experience in both the public and private sector would serve as a valuable asset to an already accomplished Board.”
Boone, who has had a long career in communications, hailed the impact of the Verona school system on his children, who are now in college. But he said that there is always room for improvement. “Verona is 23 miles from New York City–which is not just an American city, but a global community,” Boone said. “Verona’s welcoming spirit draws people from all over the world looking for the best for their families. Most residents say they come here because of the schools, the demand bolstering our property values while a huge portion of our taxes funds the schools. This intrinsically links our personal wealth to the success of the school system.
“Therefore, we need responsible, forward-looking leadership that ensures our students feel safe and secure in knowing that their voices will be heard so they can embrace the learning experience,” he added. “Our teachers and librarians must be free to teach and our administrators free to put both teachers and students in their best positions to succeed.”
One expected candidate did not materialize. An R-1 form for Aaron Spiegeland, who finished third last fall, was filed with the New Jersey Election Law Commission in April. That filing indicated that $1,496.12 had been transferred to Spiegeland’s campaign committee from the committee for Diana Ferrera, who was elected in 2022. Ferrera and Spiegeland had shared Christian Strumolo as a campaign manager. Strumolo finished third in the May Town Council election.
The Board of Education election is Tuesday, November 7.
