Haas, Soisson and Harris Say Goodbye to School Board
At the December 14, 2020 Hillsborough Board of Education meeting, the last of 2020, the three school board members who lost re-election had their final meeting before their terms expired. Judith Haas, Dr. Ann Harris, and Dr. Lorraine Soisson’s combined service on the school board totals over 25 years.
Judy Haas was first elected to the board in April 2004. After one term, she ran again in 2007 for a second three year term. However, she and the other two incumbent board members up for re-election that year, Ed Plaskon and Steve Sloan, lost re-election to Frank Blandino, John Donnadio, and Greg Gillette. Both Blandino and Donnadio each served only one term on the board. Gillette has served on the board ever since that election.
It was a close election, and according to NJ.com, Gillette beat Haas for the 3rd and final spot on the board in 2007 by just 16 votes.
After one year on the sidelines, Haas decided to run again in 2008. The other 3 candidates in the race were three incumbent BOE members that she served alongside on the board (Neil Hudes, Dave Kanaby, and Wolfgang Schneider) and won, with Kanaby being ousted.
Haas was the longtime chair of the Education Committee and was also twice the Vice President of the Board (in 2004-05 and 2012-13) and more recently the Board President for two years in 2018 and 2019.
Gillette, who was the second longest serving board member to Haas, thanked the three outgoing members, particularly Haas. “In maybe April, we had a candidate forum/debate for the 2007 election. It was April 2008 when I began serving with Mrs. Haas on this board. That’s 12 years, 8 months, like 152 months. Probably over 300 meetings together. That’s got to be a record. I don’t know any other two board members who were together for 300 meetings together (sic). Board members come and go and don’t stay for 15 years and have that kind of dedication. (...) She’s been on this board for 15 years for many noble reasons and they all have to do with the students of Hillsborough.”
Being a historian (with his blog), Gillette stated that you have to go back several decades to find another board member who served for 15 years or more.
Haas then spoke for the next several minutes, reflecting on her time and history on the board.
“I ran for the BOE after 2 years of budgets were failed, in 2002 and 2003. The community wasn’t supporting the board back in those days. Elections were in April and budgets had to be passed. My son was heading into the high school and I wasn’t going to let the system fall apart. At some point, people need to stand up and say ‘If nobody else is going to do anything about it, you’ve got to do it yourself.’ Back then, the board consisted of 9 men and I thought adding a mom’s voice might be helpful.”
Haas was previously the Hillsborough Township Administrator from 2001 to 2004 and prior to that, she held similar roles in the New York City government.
During her first term, Haas was the only woman on the board.
Haas cited 2018, her first year as Board President, as one of the most productive years during her time on the board. In 2019, when Haas was board president, there were 7 women on the board.
“I have outlasted 4 superintendents. I attended every graduation, which means that I’ve seen over 9,000 kids graduate.”
One of those kids was Haas’ own son Lenny in 2008, which she got to experience as a board member. Because board members walk and sit with school staff during the ceremony, this meant she was able to give him a hug when his name was called to receive his diploma.
Haas then listed numerous school district and board achievements during her long tenure on the board.
“4 things are hard to imagine ever being without but were a major struggle back in the day. One was getting a website up, one was getting a parent communication system up, one was a student information system, and one was 1 to 1 technology.”
Haas stated that one of the best things that happened during her time on the board was when current superintendent Dr. Lisa Antunes was hired in 2005 as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.
“Working with her on educational matters and communication matters, I’d like to think my involvement mattered and contributed to incredible improvement in student achievement.”
HTPS Business Administrator/Board Secretary Aiman Mahmoud administers the oath of office to Soisson at the May 7, 2012 BOE meeting. (Credit: HillsboroughSchools YouTube)
After previously being the HSA President at Triangle and ARIS when her children were in those schools, Dr. Lorraine Soisson ran for the BOE in April 2012, winning a seat after finishing 2nd in a field of 5 candidates. This was the last year that BOE elections were held in April. As a result, her first “year” on the board was around 20 months long instead of the usual 12.
Soisson then ran for a second term on the board, but lost in the November 2015 election to Brett Cooper. After spending a year and a half on the sidelines, Soisson ran again after board member Steve Cohen resigned in June 2017, leaving a vacancy. Cohen was up for re-election that year, so he had only a few months left in his term, which Soisson filled. 10 candidates applied to fill the vacancy and spoke to the board at the July 17, 2017 meeting, after which the board narrowed the field down to 3 finalists during the nomination process: Soisson, Michael Reilly and Thomas Zobele, with Soisson being selected to finish Cohen’s term.
Later that year, Soisson then ran for a full three-year term on the board and won a seat, finishing 3rd in a field of 7 candidates.
During her time on the board, Soisson was a member of the Education Committee, and served as its chair during the two years when Haas was the BOE President. Soisson was the board president in 2020, her final year on the board, and BOE Vice President to Haas in 2018 and 2019.
Professionally, Soisson is a scientist and an infectious disease expert, and the same year that she was board president was 2020, the year of COVID-19.
Dr. Ann Harris was first elected to the board in November 2017, with her term beginning in January 2018. Harris finished 2nd out of 7 candidates on the ballot. She replaced Jennifer Haley, who did not run for re-election after being on the BOE for two terms.
Harris is a retired teacher in HTPS, working at Amsterdam Elementary School and Auten Road Intermediate School. Harris also was also a Democratic candidate for Township Committee in 2015. She and running mate Laurie Poppe lost to Republican incumbents Greg Burchette and Carl Suraci. Harris is a member of the township’s Sustainable Steering Committee and is also involved in her parish, St. Joseph’s Church, in town. Her two children both graduated from Hillsborough Schools as well.
Harris was a member of the Operations Committee, where her experience in environmental science came in handy. She was also the chair of the Communications Committee and was a member of the Education Committee alongside Haas and Soisson.
In the middle of her one term on the board, Harris earned her doctoral degree in education from Seton Hall.
Despite being a retired HTPS teacher, Harris angrily criticized the HEA at board meetings last fall for negative campaigning on their Facebook page and in campaign mailers during this year’s school board election.
Haas, Soisson and Harris each received plaques at the meeting in honor of their years of service on the BOE.
“During their tenure as board members, the district has seen enormous areas of growth, and each of you has been integral in the advances we have made. (...) Your dedication, support, and willingness to devote countless hours never wavered. On both a personal and professional level, I’m so grateful for the time we spent together and will always be so appreciative of your wise counsel and patient advice. On behalf of the entire board, we are so grateful, and thank you for your contributions to the Hillsborough community,” Superintendent Dr. Antunes stated.
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