1. Talk about transparency in the school district. There have been concerns that discussions are not as open among board members as they should be. How will you maintain transparency for residents, and keep open communication?

Transparency is more than a buzzword to me, it is a commitment to the students, staff, residents and all concerned parties. I believe the Board of Education is a bridge between the school and the community and should be as open and inclusive as it can. Many residents, students and parents currently feel left out of the processes of Hunterdon Central. I would like to have open forums, really making sure that the community can speak freely at board meetings. The school will be going through strategic planning this year and I will make sure that the voices that are heard in those sessions are representative of the entire community including parents, staff, and students. I would also like to implement ‘Responses from The Board’, where we take time at our meetings to publicly respond to questions that we get from those who take the time to reach out to us. Residents deserve answers to their questions and it benefits all of us to hear from the board. We can do better!

2. Budgets are always a concern, particularly as we see other districts raising taxes, cutting staff and programs, etc. What are your goals for the future district budgets, and how will you keep taxes down while maintaining programs and staffing?

Good governance creates relationships with Hunterdon Central’s superintendent and administrators that allow effective budget decisions to be made.  As a taxpayer I expect effective budget management and value for the education that my taxpayer dollars fund.  I question the increased level of legal expenditure of the current board who has decided to have an attorney present at every board meeting at significant ongoing cost.  This is a departure from past practice of a more fiscally minded board.  The other thing occurring with the current board is a review of hundreds of policies in Hunterdon Central’s policy manual which is costing taxpayers by paying the superintendent and staff members to review policies instead of educating students.  I would return the responsibility for policy review back to the board committees to review as needed.  We can do better!

3. Talk about programming in the district - what kinds of new programs would you like to see offered to students, or enhanced to give students a full experience? 

I support educational excellence at Hunterdon Central.  This includes providing all students the tools they need to be successful.  Health and safety are of utmost importance to me, and I am concerned that the current board put at-risk students at even more risk by recently canceling two support programs just before the start of the school year.  Mental health programs must be maintained so that students feel safe at school and can be successful in achieving educational goals. We can do better!

For district programming, I would like to determine if there is student interest in learning American Sign Language which would also allow for some community partnerships.  And I want to prioritize a smooth transition for students in the Polytech program to their new campus at North Hunterdon High School.

1. Talk about transparency in the school district. There have been concerns that discussions are not as open among board members as they should be. How will you maintain transparency for residents, and keep open communication?

I am a Supporting Educational Excellence (SEE) Candidate, transparency means ensuring that our community can see and hear how decisions are made. As a board member, I will respect and work with my colleagues, even when we differ, while openly deliberating important issues during public meetings so residents know exactly where each of us stands.

I also believe committee work should be more accessible. Posting committee minutes on the board’s website at least four days before each board meeting would give the community time to review discussions, understand the issues, and submit questions or feedback. This practice would allow residents to be better informed and engaged, while also giving board members the opportunity to address concerns publicly.

By promoting open deliberation and timely sharing of information, I will advocate for a school board culture that builds trust, accountability, and stronger partnerships with our community.

2. Budgets are always a concern, particularly as we see other districts raising taxes, cutting staff and programs, etc. What are your goals for the future district budgets, and how will you keep taxes down while maintaining programs and staffing?

As a district, we have the opportunity to pursue forward-thinking budget initiatives that reduce costs while benefiting students and the community. My background and training as an engineer helps me see how projects such as transitioning to electric buses and installing solar panels, steps already taken by other districts, could generate long-term savings on maintenance and fuel while also improving health and environmental outcomes. Leveraging taxpayer-funded state dollars, will let us put Hunterdon Central in a position to reap these savings for years to come.

I also recognize and appreciate the strong fiscal management that previous Central business administrators, including Ms. Spitzer, have demonstrated in partnership with our superintendent and faculty. Their work has consistently produced responsible, effective budgets that have placed our district in a sound financial position.

As a board member, I will continue to support and collaborate with our administration to ensure that we maintain this tradition of fiscal discipline, balancing the need for high-quality education and staffing with the responsibility to taxpayers. Unlike recent double-digit tax increases seen in neighboring districts, Hunterdon Central has managed its resources wisely, and I am committed to building on that success. We can do better!

3. Talk about programming in the district - what kinds of new programs would you like to see offered to students, or enhanced to give students a full experience?

One of my top priorities is ensuring that every student has access to the mental health support they need to thrive. The decision by the current board to eliminate CarePlus services in the name of cost savings was shortsighted and harmful. Cutting critical support programs undermines student well-being while claiming to put cost above care. That’s something I do not and cannot support.

I will strenuously continue advocating for the reinstatement of CarePlus or a comparable program, because protecting the mental health of our students is not optional. It is essential! Strong schools don’t just prepare students academically; they provide the resources to help them navigate challenges, reduce stress, and build resilience. As a board member, I will make sure our budgeting decisions reflect this commitment. We can do better!

1. Talk about transparency in the school district. There have been concerns that discussions are not as open among board members as they should be. How will you maintain transparency for residents, and keep open communication?

Vernon, Maristela, and I are running on Supporting Educational Excellence, and that involves actively engaging and respecting the voice of all stakeholders of our varied HCRHS community. I believe in public discourse, and fostering open dialogue at the table in the public view. Unless information is truly confidential (i.e., HIB cases, litigation, negotiations), agenda items should be freely discussed during school board meetings. Board members should ask questions and comment, and should willingly listen during pubic comment periods. The current board’s reliance on communications from emails and through committee meetings does not offer the level of transparency that the public deserves. We can do better!

2. Budgets are always a concern, particularly as we see other districts raising taxes, cutting staff and programs, etc. What are your goals for the future district budgets, and how will you keep taxes down while maintaining programs and staffing?

I support Hunterdon Central’s administration who have done an unparalleled job with long-term planning, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring the district is run efficiently. Wallace, Williams, and Brice fully support the effective financial strategies used by the administration to ensure adequate capital reserves and preservation of staff and programs to keep Hunterdon Central in a healthy financial position while providing high-quality education.

As a taxpayer, I appreciate that Hunterdon Central has not exceeded the 2% budget cap since inception of the law limiting annual increases in a school district's local property tax levy. My goal for future budgets is to stay within the 2% cap by using efficiencies that can be achieved operationally, and to pursue grant funding to help keep costs to local taxpayers down.

As sending districts approve additional housing developments, it is imperative they consider the impact of tax abatements on the public schools. We need to raise awareness prior to townships granting approval. I will advocate for assigning a liaison to each of the sending district’s municipal bodies. We can do better!

3. Talk about programming in the district - what kinds of new programs would you like to see offered to students, or enhanced to give students a full experience?

I think this is a question for students! Of all stakeholders, HCRHS students are affected most significantly, and their ideas and suggestions hold the greatest weight. Vernon, Maristela, and I would welcome hearing directly from the students regarding what they feel is lacking or could be improved. We are committed to promoting channels of interactive communication that invite and encourage the entire community to participate in the overall educational experience. To us, “Supporting Educational Excellence” is more than a concept, it’s a mission! We can do better!

As for existing programming, Hunterdon Central offers extensive and outstanding options for academics, athletics, and extracurriculars, successfully engaging students and preparing them for life after high school. I am particularly inspired by Hunterdon Central’s commitment to the arts, giving our talented students opportunities to bring their talents into the community and share their school pride.