Our Bureau
Edison, NJ
‘Biral Patel’ who has spent over 2 decades in volunteering and community service in several areas has been elected as the new President of Edison Board of Education, at their reorganization meeting on January 2, 2024.
In his speech as a new Board of Education President ‘I would like to start with thanking my Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj, I come from a background of volunteering and community service and strongly believe in ‘In the Joy of others Lies our own'(most famous quote by Pramukh Swami Maharaj). He also added, “From now onwards, not a single student, not a single parent, not a single educator, not a single staff member, no one lives in fear.
New board members Anjana Patel and Chris Lugo were also sworn in at the same meeting. Incumbent Virginia White was sworn in for her 2nd term.
This is Biral’s 4th year as a member of the Board of Education after he was appointed in January 2021 and elected in November 2021 for a full 3-year Term.
Prior to this, he worked with BOE members and council members to secure vaccination appointments for educators and staff members. He formed a volunteer group to secure vaccination appointments for 1,400 Edison residents. His efforts were recognized by Township Mayor Tom Lankey and Council members including current Edison Mayor Sam Joshi.
Biral who comes from a strong community service and volunteer background was very active during peak of Covid-19 crisis where his efforts were recognized by Middlesex County Government for his relief endeavors for helping residents in and around Edison with food, medications, PPE kits and several other efforts.
Biral holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science with over 30 professional certifications and works at a Global Fortune 500 IT organization. He has also coached several individuals with Dale Carnegie Effective Communications and Human Relations courses and participated as an active member of Discover Engineering – IBM’s program for Science and Engineering Education for students in New Jersey Middle School. He is former member of Edison Township Zoning Board and Water utility advisory committee. He is recipient of Presidents’ Silver Award for Volunteering and Community Service and received Gold Recognition too. He is active with several non-profit community organizations and a member of Board of Trustees of ‘The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park’, Edison Tower.
In the past 3 years, while Biral was a member of Edison Board of Education, he has successfully worked with other members to Champion ‘Zero Percent Tax Increase’, Implemented Energy Savings Improvement plan that provides district with budget-neutral infrastructure upgrades, worked on Infrastructure plans to resolve the overcrowding crisis – Historic Infrastructure improvements: classrooms at major high school, auditorium, gym upgrades etc., bringing back full day Kindergarten, expanding the preschool program with goal of providing free preschool for every student, largest investment in the music program in history of Edison Township, investment and upgrades of in-class supply including microscopes, newline boards, and devices and regular infrastructure upgrades at several school buildings and enhancement of athletic facilities, fields and providing more opportunities for athletic, sports etc.
