Here's a small snippet:
Pamela Rogers
Bio: 42, lives in Fairview, part-time dance and music teacher, married with two children, including a son at River Plaza Elementary School.
Qualifications: Rogers cited a variety of experiences — from teaching ballroom dance to public school students in New York City to owning her own dance studio — as reasons she's ready for the job.
"Honestly though the thing that makes me most qualified to be on the school board is that I have two children in the public school system, and a little extra time on my hands. I have a vested interest in elevating the level of the school system to benefit my kids and all the children of Middletown. I am determined, relentless and I care."
What do you see as the board's role in the community?
"The role of the school board is to advocate for the students of Middletown. I feel very strongly that families from all areas of our township deserve access to all of the same opportunities, which include equity in the curriculum, structured special ed with sufficient resources, extra-curricular activities, honors programs, fields, and facilities."
What's your plan for property taxes?
"I would like the opportunity to discuss various money-saving options. I’d like to discuss the option of our district going paperless. I know that this has really helped save money in other New Jersey school districts. I am open to any change that can save Middletown money. I’m hoping we can use the money we save towards resources for students of all abilities, including our special needs students and our gifted students."
What are your top three goals?
- Don't raise taxes for the next two years.
- Implement a new curriculum offering or expand an existing one, depending on what the community desires.
- "We have 12 elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. All activities, honors programs, fields, and facilities should be brought in line."
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Robin Stella
Bio: 45, lives in Fairview, public school teacher and children's book author, married with a daughter at Thompson Middle School. Thirty-year resident of Middletown.
Qualifications: Stella said her experiences as a teacher and as a consultant for a group of private schools for students with special needs establish her bonafides.
"However, it is my role as a mother and member of the community that compelled me to run for a Board of Ed seat," she said.
What do you see as the board's role in the community?
"I would serve as an advocate for all children and families in town. As I meet with members of the community, I have been hearing their concerns — taxes, busing, special education and curriculum. I want to be a voice for the community."
What's your plan for property taxes?
"As a Board of Ed member, I would look for ways to save money. For example, we should shop around for the best possible deal on employee benefits, without compromising the quality. Also, we should look into energy-saving measures, like LED lighting throughout the seventeen schools of Middletown, which could save hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long term."
What are your top three goals?
- Don't raise taxes.
- Clubs and facilities should be uniform so all students have the same opportunities.
- "Enhance the curriculum and programs in the district, including an emphasis on STEM and possibly offering a few more foreign language choices at the high schools."
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Nicholas DiFranco
Bio: 43, River Plaza homeowner, senior manager at Ernst &Young, married with a daughter at Thompson Middle School, Eagle Scout, Christian Brothers Academy graduate.
Qualifications: "My role at (Ernst & Young) requires me to lead diverse teams of people in order to achieve a common purpose, and the projects I work on are complex enough that no one person is the expert on everything. I think this translates very well to the role of a school board member."
What do you see as the board's role in the community?
"My role as a board member would also be to influence the direction of our educational policy by identifying and advocating for what’s important to our community. For example, I believe that success in the modern world requires a better appreciation of world cultures. Our surrounding districts — Holmdel, Red Bank — support this by offering language education beyond the usual French and Spanish."
What's your plan for property taxes?
"We all want to see our taxes go down, but I’m not sure it’s possible to lessen the burden, especially given the district’s settlement with the state and resulting $217-per-household impact. It seems much more reasonable and achievable to be aggressive within the confines of the current budget and look for ways to lower costs while maintaining the same level of services."
What are your top three goals?
- Don't raise taxes.
- Implement or expand an in-demand curriculum, like STEM or foreign languages.
- "We have 12 elementary schools and three middle schools, and the activities, honors programs, fields and facilities at each should be brought to a level par."
Head on over to the Asbury Park Press to finish reading the article and learn about the other candidates who are running this year candidates; Adam Gentile, Frank Higgins, Sue Griffin, Andrew Nicholes and Ernest Donnelly
