Incumbent School Board Member Will Not Seek Re-election

Longtime Board of Education member Paul Petigrow has withdrawn his name from the ballot this November, and said he will not run again. 

Petigrow recently changed his mind because he feels the district is in stable hands, now that an interim superintendent has been named.  was appointed in August.

He cited the “instability” in the district during the time  as one the primary reasons he wanted to run again in November.

“I feel we have stability ... with the new superintendent,” said Petigrow. 

Petigrow, the current school board vice president, began his long tenure on the board in 2000. While on the board, Petigrow helped usher in the construction of Liberty Middle School; various additions to school buildings, such as those at West Orange High School; and the formation of Thomas Edison Central Six School. 

The time commitment was also a contributing factor for his decision to not run again. Petigrow said the hours on the board were a drain on his family life, and his family encouraged him to not run again. 

“We felt it was time to give someone else a chance,” said Petigrow. 

While Petigrow may be out of the race, he is putting his support behind the incumbent candidate Michelle Casalino.

There are two seats on the five-member board up for election in November. Each seat comes with a three-year term. 

This is the first year school board elections will be . Petigrow and Casalino had their terms extended this year when the board consented in January to move the elections. 

Petigrow was quick to say that he was surely going to miss being a member of the board.  

“I enjoyed serving the citizens of West Orange,” said Petigrow. “I’m definitely going to miss it.” 

A guide to this year's crop of candidates contending for the two open seats on the Board of Education can be found .