New BOE Members, Including Moorestown's Youngest Ever, Take Office

When most kids were still playing video games and building forts, Brandon Pugh was already thinking about his political future.

Pugh, 20, was sworn in Thursday as one of the newest members of the Moorestown Board of Education, along with Sheryl Sawin and David Weinstein—officially making him the youngest board member Moorestown’s ever had, and certainly one of the youngest in the state.

It came as no surprise to his father, Sgt. Randy Pugh, of the Moorestown Police Department, who always expected great things from his son.

“Brandon never ceases to amaze me,” he said, explaining how his son had an interest in politics from an early age. “I knew when he was very young, 7 or 8 years old … He was always more adult-like.”

Thursday’s reorganization meeting was mostly routine matters—reupping the district’s contracts, designating banks, adopting the New Jersey School Board Member Code of Ethics—but the younger Pugh said it was “exciting.”

“I spent a ton of time before this meeting preparing,” he said, just before ducking into an executive session to discuss personnel with the rest of the board.

Board members Don Mishler and Kathy Goldenberg were once again chosen as board president and vice president respectively during the meeting.

Weinstein was sworn in for his second term, while , is taking her first crack at public office.

The background of the board members may be diverse—and the younger Pugh, who’s presently pursuing a degree at The College of New Jersey, may be separated from his colleagues by decades—but Sgt. Pugh is certain his son will fit right in.

“He’s completely comfortable in this environment. I fully expect Brandon to be a team player with the rest of the board,” he said. “Whatever he’s involved in, he comes up with incredible ideas.”

In addition to reelecting Mishler and Goldenberg, the board extended contracts with Garrison Architects and school physician R. Blair Summergill, of Moorestown Family Practice, until June 30. The district will put out requests for proposal in the spring.

The board also reapproved a contract for legal services with Arthur F. Risden, of Comegno Law Group.