Glassboro school board fills vacancy

By GENE VERNACCHIO, Courier-Post Staff, September 17, 2004

GLASSBORO -- A woman who launched an unsuccessful write-in campaign for a school board seat earlier this year has been tapped to fill a board vacancy.

Elizabeth L. Volz, 36, was chosen from a field of seven candidates to succeed Hector Cabezas, who had resigned to fill a seat on borough council.

Volz began her write-in campaign this spring after protesting the school board's decision to discontinue art and music classes at Dorothy L. Bullock School for budgetary purposes.

Voters eventually approved both the district's budget and a secondary ballot question to continue art and music instruction at Bullock.

"My children are the third generation to go to school here," Volz said. "... I think Glassboro schools are excellent, but everything can be improved upon... If I want things to change, I have to get involved."

Volz has three children who attend Glassboro public schools and a 2-year-old at home.

Volz, a graduate of Swarthmore College, also is president of the New Jersey chapter of the National Organization for Women. She will hold the unpaid board position until the April school election. She said she's undecided about whether to run for a full term next year.

School board President Peter Calvo said Volz's qualifications and experience stood out from the other candidates.

"I think a lot of the board members thought her presentation skills and her presentation was the best of all of them," Calvo said. "That, combined with her qualifications and experience, made the board's decision unanimous."

Reach Gene Vernacchio at (856) 251-3343 or gvernacchio@courierpostonline.com