The Bayonne Board of Education voted to retain its existing leadership following a short reorganization meeting on Tuesday, preceded by a tense Open Public Workshop where trustees debated governance, ethics, and internal communication. Mary Jane Desmond was re-elected as board president, and Sam Maggio was re-elected as vice president, keeping the leadership structure unchanged for 2026.
The reorganization meeting lasted 16 minutes and included the swearing-in of four trustees before leadership votes were conducted. The workshop held earlier in the evening framed the leadership decisions and brought forward differing views among board members.
- Mary Jane Desmond was unanimously re-elected as president, and Sam Maggio was re-elected as vice president by an 8–1 vote during the Bayonne Board of Education reorganization meeting.
- Trustee Melissa Godesky-Rodriguez requested consideration for a leadership role during the Open Public Workshop and raised issues related to ethics, public trust, and access to information.
- Trustees discussed community involvement, conflict-of-interest rules, the need for a new school, funding concerns, and health insurance issues tied to Chapter 44 in 2027.
Trustees Sworn In After Election and Midyear Vacancy
Several board members were officially sworn in before leadership roles were considered. Mary Jane Desmond, Sam Maggio, and Trustee Hector Gonzalez each began new three-year terms after securing re-election on November 4. All three ran together on a slate that defeated their only opponent, Vivian Ghobrial.
William “Bill” Young was also sworn in during the meeting after winning a two-year term without opposition. His election filled the remaining portion of the term left vacant by Trustee Jodi Casais, who resigned on July 1. Once Young took the oath of office, the board proceeded with leadership nominations.
Desmond was the only trustee nominated for board president and was approved unanimously by a 9–0 vote. She has held the position since last year and previously served as Business Administrator following an appointment by then-Mayor Jimmy Davis, who now serves as Hudson County sheriff.
Maggio was nominated for the vice president position and was approved by an 8–1 vote. Trustee Melissa Godesky-Rodriguez cast the sole vote in opposition.
Leadership Challenge and Ethics Issues Raised During Workshop
Discussion over board leadership stemmed from comments made earlier in the evening during the Open Public Workshop. Trustee Melissa Godesky-Rodriguez read a prepared statement in which she asked to be considered for a leadership position, identifying the vice presidency as a minimum role. She stated that her remarks were offered in the interest of transparency and maintaining public trust.
She detailed her involvement with the Bayonne Board of Education beginning in 2016, noting consistent participation in board meetings and service on committees, including the policy committee. She referenced her professional working relationships with students, educators, paraprofessionals, parents, administrators, and fellow trustees, and described her governance style as structured, deliberate, and based on policy, process, and established procedures.
Godesky-Rodriguez also cited a 2023 advisory opinion from the School Ethics Commission, identified as AO523. She described the opinion as guidance meant to support ethical governance, reduce conflicts of interest, and safeguard public confidence. She said that she does not have any conflicts that would limit her ability to serve as vice president and referenced the obligation of school officials to regularly review potential conflicts of interest. She further tied board leadership to the current demographics and lived experiences within the Bayonne School District.
Board Responses on Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
The remarks led to a discussion about conflicts of interest and ethics within board leadership. Desmond responded by addressing the nature of Bayonne as a close-knit community where family connections are common. She referenced the conduct of the current board and the absence of voting or decision-making for self-serving purposes, even when family members are connected to the district.
Godesky-Rodriguez clarified during the exchange that she was not accusing any trustee of wrongdoing and reiterated that her focus centered on public trust.
Maggio shared that he contacted the New Jersey School Boards Association for clarification on whether a board member with a conflict of interest may serve in a leadership role. He read the association’s guidance into the record, which explained that a conflicted board member may hold a leadership position but must follow standard conflict-of-interest rules. The guidance outlined that such members may ask questions and offer opinions on resolutions, but must recuse themselves from votes involving the specific conflict.
Community Engagement and District Challenges Discussed
Trustee Hector Gonzalez spoke about leadership expectations, linking leadership roles to consistent involvement in the Bayonne community beyond board meetings. He referenced attendance at school sporting events, state budget hearings, and similar activities.
Gonzalez also addressed future challenges facing the district. He referenced the need to build a new school and the difficulty of securing funding. He spoke about Chapter 44, identifying it as a health insurance issue that will affect the district in 2027. He also referenced conversations with Mr. Castles related to the issue.
Trustee Lisa Burke referenced her experience observing multiple leadership changes on the board over time, including leaders with and without conflicts who had deep roots in the community. She connected her comments to the guidance shared from the New Jersey School Boards Association and supported keeping the current leadership in place.
Concerns Raised About Information Flow and Inclusion
Godesky-Rodriguez raised concerns about receiving information late or not being included in certain discussions. She described a perception of not always receiving timely information and referenced situations where information was shared on the day of meetings. She connected these concerns to the board’s overall effectiveness and the need to address communication gaps.
Desmond responded by referencing steps taken by the board to address inclusion concerns. These included rotating meeting locations among district schools and adjusting committee schedules so meetings occur on the same day to support coordination and shared awareness among trustees.
The leadership votes followed the workshop discussion, resulting in Desmond and Maggio continuing in their roles for the upcoming year.
