Former board member interested in vacancy John Talty, who lost his bid for re-election last year, wants to come back BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent BRICK TOWNSHIP- Board of Educationmembers expect to fill the vacancy created by Brian DeLuca's Dec. 31 resignation at a special meeting on Jan. 17. Superintendent Melindo A. Persi said the board will interview candidates in public and then will go into a closed session to deliberate. "Hopefully, they'll appoint someone that night," Persi said. As of press time on Monday, Persi said he did not have any résumés for the position, but said one person picked up an application. The application deadline is today at 4 p.m. at the board office on HendricksonAvenue, Persi said. Under state law, the school board has 65 days from DeLuca's resignation date to name a replacement. If they cannot come to an agreement and fail to appoint someone, Ocean County Superintendent Bruce Greenfield has the right to fill the vacancy. Former board member John Talty, who lost his seat in last April's election, said he would like to rejoin the board and that he planned on submitting his paperwork on Monday. "I didn't feel like I was finished when I was defeated." Talty said on Sunday. "I still have a longing to get the job that I started done. I still have a lot to offer." Talty said he would like to continue to improve the district's technology and its reading program, and tomake sure that its transportation department is running smoothly. Former board President Sharon Kight said she hasn't ruled out another run for a seat in the future, but said that the timing is not right for her now. "When I do a job, I like to do it to the best ofmy ability and have the time to devote to it, but right now I'm just very busy," said Kight, who is helping to organize TheWarrenWolf Gala and the Brick TownshipHigh School football banquet. Former board member Catherine Lindenbaum, who is the current president of the Ocean County Parent Teacher Association, echoed Kight's reasons for not applying for the vacancy. "I'm still interested," Lindenbaum said, "but I took on another job and it's a lot of work. I'm also involved in Pop Warner and I have five kids." Whoever fills the vacancy will have to run for re-election inApril in order to retain the seat. Board of Education members are elected to three-year terms. The board will officially accept DeLuca's resignation during the meeting. His resignation was effective Dec. 31, a day before he took the oath of office for Township Council. Persi said the board will also elect a new president. Cynthia McCarthy, who had been the board's vice president, has been serving as its interim president since DeLuca's resignation.