Todd Chosen to Lead Montgomery School Board; Spina Elected Vice President

Nicholas Mistretta

The Montgomery Township Board of Education selected its leadership team for the new year during its January 6 reorganization meeting, following competitive nominations and roll-call votes for both president and vice president.

Two Nominees for Board President
The process began when Board Secretary and Business Administrator Andrew Italiano opened the floor for nominations for board president.

• Dr. Ting Wang was the first nominee, put forward by board member Vanita Nargund.
• Patrick Todd was then nominated by board member Cookie Franco Herman.

With no additional nominations, Italiano closed the floor and explained that, under board policy, votes would be taken in the order of nomination. The first nominee to receive a majority of the full board (five votes) would become president.

Before the vote, both candidates were invited to share their leadership philosophies.

Dr. Wang emphasized collaboration, inclusiveness, and data-informed decision-making, describing a vision of a board that welcomes diverse perspectives, sets measurable, student-centered goals, and remains open to adjusting course based on evidence. She highlighted her professional background in educational policy, administration, and research at a major public university and framed her approach around equity and outcomes for all students.

Todd, who has served on the board since 2020 and has three decades of public service experience, including law enforcement, underscored consistency, collaboration, and a strong working relationship with fellow board members, administration, and students. He stated his desire to continue in the role of board president, focusing on stable governance and teamwork.

Roll-Call Vote for President
Because Dr. Wang was nominated first, the board voted on her candidacy before considering Todd’s.

In that first roll-call vote, Dr. Wang received two “yes” votes (Wang, Nargund)  and seven “no” votes, (Pfeffer, Spina, Franco-Herman, Worland, Harris, Nunez, Todd) short of the required majority. With no majority secured, the board proceeded to vote on the second nominee, Patrick Todd.

In the subsequent vote, Todd received seven “yes” votes (Pfeffer, Spina, Franco-Herman, Worland, Harris, Nunez, Todd) and two “no” votes, (Wang, Nargund) surpassing the five-vote threshold and securing the presidency. Italiano formally announced Todd’s election as Board President, and the gavel passed to him to conduct the remainder of the meeting.

Vice President Race: Nargund vs. Spina
Todd then presided over the same process for the position of vice president.

• Vanita Nargund was first nominated for vice president.
• Maria Spina was then nominated by board member Harris.

As with the presidential vote, nominations were closed after those two names were put forward, and Todd invited discussion.

Nargund spoke about her background in school finance, her work on the board’s finance committee and negotiations team, and her long involvement in the district and community organizations. She stressed budget oversight, collaboration, and support for students and staff, and asked colleagues for their trust in stepping into a formal leadership role despite being a relatively recent board member.

Spina, who has served on the board since 2022 and has more than two decades of experience in public and private education as a teacher and administrator, spoke about knowing “the ins and outs of schools” and her commitment to supporting the superintendent, faculty, and—above all—students. She pointed to her own children’s experience in the district and emphasized community connection and continuity of excellence as key priorities.

During discussion, Dr. Wang elaborated on her reasons for supporting Nargund, citing her diligence, financial expertise, and habit of researching policies and practices in other districts to inform local decision-making.

Split Votes Lead to Spina’s Election as Vice President
As with the presidential vote, the board first considered the candidate who was nominated earliest.

In the roll-call vote for Vice President Nargund, Nargund received two “yes” votes (Wang, Nargund) and seven “no” votes (Pfeffer, Spina, Franco-Herman, Worland, Harris, Nunez, Todd),  which was not enough to secure the position.

The board then moved to a second roll-call vote on Maria Spina. In that vote, Spina received seven “yes” votes (Pfeffer, Spina, Franco-Herman, Worland, Harris, Nunez, Todd) and two “no” votes (Wang, Nargund), giving her a clear majority and the vice presidency.

Todd formally congratulated Spina on her election as Vice President of the Montgomery Township Board of Education.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com