Three of West Essex Regional Schools' four sending districts have voted to move school board elections to November and not have a public vote on the school budget so long as the budget remains under the mandated 2% cap.

The North Caldwell Board of Education joined Roseland and Essex Fells Tuesday by voting 4-0 in favor of the move. Board Member Robert Kessler was not present at the meeting because he was away on business.

School boards throughout the state were given the option to take these measures by a bill passed by the Assembly and Senate in January. The changes would be effective for four years at which time the districts could reverse their decisions.

If Fairfield joins the other three sending districts, West Essex Regional Schools would be left with no choice but to move school board elections as well, as is required by the law.

North Caldwell Schools Superintendent Linda Freda said Thursday the decision was made by the Board in part due to the low turnout generally seen at April elections. 

“Moving the elections to November would give more people the opportunity to vote on the board of ed candidates,” Freda said.

Another upside of the move is not having to pay for a separate April election. Meanwhile, opponents prefer to keep school board elections out of the partisan General Election.

Two seats are up for grabs on North Caldwell’s School Board, those currently held by Board President Steven Hadley and Board Vice President Mary Wojtowicz.

Freda said it is not certain whether they will seek re-election. She said no candidate packets had been picked up as of Thursday. Candidate kits are available on the district’s website, www.ncboe.org.

The state deadline for making a final decision on moving school board elections is Friday, Feb. 17.