MIDDLE TOWNSHIP – With the official results of the 2024 general election now posted on the Cape May County Votes website, the outcome of the close race for the final seat on the township school board is clear: Current board President Stephanie Thomas won reelection, beating out fellow incumbent Kathleen Orlando by 10 votes. Thomas garnered 2,732 votes to Orlando’s 2,722.

Two newcomers more easily won their seats, with Sam Caraballo Jr. winning 2,891 votes and Krista Ostrander getting 2,779.

Caraballo was the top vote-getter in a field of seven vying for the three open eats on the nine-member board. He says he is committed to transparency and fiscal responsibility. A coach for baseball and football in the township school system, he sees himself as an advocate for the youth in the community. He says he is for teaching critical race theory and supports diversity, equality and inclusiveness policies.

Ostrander is a former teacher in the system and has two children currently enrolled. She sees the township’s diversity as a strength for the school system. She saw the defeat of the $26.5 million bond referendum measure in September’s special election as a hardship for the school system, where certain facility upgrades must go forward with other sources of funding.

The close contest for the third seat was between incumbents Thomas and Orlando. Thomas was selected as president of the board after the defeat of Dennis Roberts in the 2023 election.

Thomas and Orlando took opposing positions on the referendum measure, with Thomas voting for it and Orlando against.

During the campaign, Thomas advocated for “continuous expansion of the curriculum.” The defeat of the referendum measure means, she says, that the focus must be on maintaining valuable programs in the “most fiscally prudent manner” while also taking care of the district’s most urgent needs.

The board this school year will be searching for a new schools superintendent to replace David Salvo, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.