William J. Wilkinson (second from left to right), Butch Bruner and Lori Kroeger will serve three-year terms.
The Mantua board of education had its annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 3, when it swore in three members to new terms and appointed a president and vice president.
Incumbent Lori Kroeger and newcomers Butch Bruner and William J. Wilkinson were sworn in for three-year terms after winning seats in the November election, Kroeger with 3,155 votes, Bruner with 2,723 and Wilkinson with 2,635, out of a total of 11,188, according to the Gloucester County Board of Elections. Their terms will end on Dec. 31, 2026.
“Communities are made stronger by participation from those who live in them,” said Kroeger. “Serving on the BOE has allowed me to give my time and share my experiences with the Mantua community.
“I value public education and am committed to working with the district’s leadership to ensure that Mantua children have an excellent, well-rounded education.”
Kroeger was also named board president after receiving a majority of the board’s votes, while new Vice President Emily Pedersen was the only candidate for that role.
“Reading and math are the foundation for all other subjects and are skills we draw upon throughout our lives,” Kroeger noted. “As we learn more about the long-term impacts of the pandemic on student learning, I will concentrate on ways that the district uses data to identify students who would benefit from additional support and resources.
“I will work with the district leadership to ensure that those children’s learning needs are met.”
The terms of office for three members – including 2026 – were also announced by the board. Stephanie DiAntonio, Michele Leach and Pedersen will serve until the end of this year, and the terms of Amy Gregg and Erica Atkinson will end at the end of 2025. The last days of the terms are on Dec. 31 of their respective years.
The next board of education meeting will be a regular session at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22.
