School board elections to be held April 16
By:David Koch and Vanessa S. Holt
The Register-News recently sent out questionnaires to those running for seats on their local boards of education.
The purpose of the questionnaires was to give candidates a forum for their platforms and to provide voters with information.
Last week, profiles from the Mansfield Township School District were featured. This week, the Register publishes the profiles of those running in the other local districts.
BORDENTOWN REGIONAL
There are three seats available on the school board this year. Joann Dansbury of Bordentown City and Christine Trogdon of Bordentown Township are running unopposed for re-election. No candidate filed to run for the Fieldsboro seat on the board. All terms are for three years.
None of the candidates returned profiles.
CHESTERFIELD
Four candidates are vying for two open seats on the Chesterfield Board of Education. Both seats are for three-year terms.
Craig Their
Mr. Their, 37, of Chesterfield-Crosswicks Road has lived in Chesterfield for five years with his wife, Lorrie, and children Sydney, 5; and Cali, 3.
A graduate of Shaker High School in Latham, N.Y., he received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and a master’s degree in finance from National University in San Diego, Calif.
He has worked in finance and administration for integrated health care providers for 10 years and currently works for Adaytum Software.
Mr. Their said the issues he would most like to see the school board address include:
Improving the district’s fiscal stability and responsibility to the community by implementing a strategic, long-range planning process.
"For the second consecutive year, voters are being asked to approve two special questions; one for world language and one for art," he said. "These special questions are the result of the school district’s projected 2002-03 expenditures exceeding the spending limitations stipulated under state law.
"Additionally, for the third consecutive year, property taxes will increase by 8 percent for the 2002-03 school year and increased 11.4 percent and 9.2 percent respectively for the two previous years."
Mr. Their said much of the projected spending increases are related to "uncontrollable expenditures" including worker’s compensation, adding that the property tax increase is due in part to the freeze in state aid.
"I believe if the school district forecasts revenues, expenditures and spending limitations for the (2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05) school years, and periodically updates the forecasts, the board will be well positioned to proactively manage and resolve expected budget shortfalls or surplus."
Curriculum. He said he would like to continue ongoing efforts by the current Board of Education, school administration and teaching staff to ensure that the school’s curriculum continues to be updated and exceeds minimum standards.
"Part of this continuous effort should include the ongoing assessment and evaluation of all curriculum and student performance as a process to continually improve the quality of education," he said.
Increased enrollment. Finally, Mr. Their said the Chesterfield School District will experience a significant increase in school enrollment that will require not only new educational facilities, but new staff, supplies and various other capital and operation expenditures in the near future.
"Development of a comprehensive business plan is necessary not only to identify and justify this significant expenditure to the community, but also to define a timeline for execution," he said. "Timing is critical; building too late will mean larger class sizes and overcrowding, building too soon will bring vacant facilities with the costs funded by the existing taxpayers. I believe the school facilities advisory board was an important first step, engaging a diverse and deep cross-section of the township population. It is time to further engage this group, quickly in developing a comprehensive plan to accommodate the anticipated growth."
Mr. Their enjoys ice hockey and golf in his leisure time.
Lynn Peterson-Quinn
Ms. Peterson-Quinn, 35, of Davenport Drive has lived in the district for more than six years with her husband, Jim, and children, Jarrett, 7, and Jamie, 4.
A graduate of Hamilton High West in Hamilton Township, she received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Livingston College, Rutgers University.
She is employed as a senior claims representative with New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co., where she has worked for over 12 years.
Among the issues Ms. Peterson-Quinn said would like to see the school board address are:
Improving the current curriculum, especially the math program. "It is troubling that almost 45 percent of the students who took the ESPA were partially proficient in math," said Ms. Peterson-Quinn. "This issue needs to be addressed now. The elementary school years are where the foundation is laid for a child’s math future. If a child’s foundation for math is weak, he or she may struggle or have constant difficulty in this area for the rest of their schooling."
Ms. Peterson-Quinn said she believes all grades should be tested on a regular basis. Teachers would evaluate the test results and a summarized report of the results should be submitted to the administration, she said.
"This will allow the administration to see the progress and quickly identify and correct the problems in the program," she said. "If this plan is successful, I would recommend it be applied to all curriculum and that evaluations be done on a regular basis to constantly make improvements."
Research on the feasibility of a new elementary school versus the expansion of the existing school is another issue Ms. Peterson-Quinn would like to address. She said she believes research should be done thoroughly, correctly and in a timely manner and that funds used to support this research should be used efficiently.
"Because this issue will have a dramatic effect on almost every person in this township, I believe every board member must thoroughly review every piece of research material and explore every possible option so the most educated recommendation can be made to the public," she said. "This recommendation must take into consideration the effect on the taxpayers as well as the future students who will attend the school."
VIP program. Finally, she said, the VIP program needs to be expanded and the volunteers need to be more effectively used.
"We are very fortunate to have a large number of parents who volunteer in the school," she said. "I would like to see teachers and administrators develop plans to have the volunteers more involved in the classroom. Under the teachers’ directions, volunteers can help assist in giving students more specialized attention."
Ms. Peterson-Quinn said she feels the VIP program should be expanded by looking to the community for volunteers.
"Given the opportunity, many would love to help the students," she said. "This is a very inexpensive way to enhance the quality of our students’ education without putting additional tax burdens on the taxpayers of this township."
Ms. Peterson-Quinn is vice president of the Chesterfield Public Education Fund and is a member of the Chesterfield School PTA.
She enjoys jogging, camping, bike riding and scrapbooking in her spare time.
Maude Backes Snyder
Ms. Snyder, 45, of Chesterfield-Georgetown Road has lived in the township for 18 years with her husband, David, and her children, Erik, 9, and Kent, 7.
A full-time mom, she was formerly employed as executive director of the Delaware and Raritan Greenway in Princeton.
She received a bachelor’s degree in geography and economics from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in geography from Rutgers University.
She has served on the Hopewell Township zoning board and Planning Board, the Chesterfield Township Environmental Commission and the Stuart Country Day School board of trustees.
She has served as alumnae board president at the Stuart Country Day School, and services on the board of the Riverview Cemetery in Trenton and is a member of the Crosswicks Community Association.
Among the issues Ms. Snyder said would like to see the school board address are:
Continuing to provide a quality academic education in the midst of all the other demands placed on the school day. "There are always improvements to be made," she said. "One such initiative to schedule reading and math lesson times that are uninterrupted by special programs makes a lot of sense. The willingness shown to explore new initiatives is a good sign that the school will continue to provide an excellent education for our children."
Second, she said she believes it is important to further the sense of community among students, faculty, administration, staff and parents, who together have built a great school and should be proud of it. "There have been many ways that the children have been included in giving to the school and the greater community: the garden club, the plays and the care boxes sent to our troops overseas, to name a few. Working together and feeling a part of something successful helps build self-confidence and will also help our children to learn to be good citizens by learning to be generous with their time and talents."
Finally, she said, issues of safety must be addressed in a changing society. "There are many facets to this including outside threats, environmental safety and behavior (in both word and deed) in school and on the buses," she said.
Ms. Snyder said she believes the best way to address all of these issues as a school board member is to encourage good communication, respect the professional advice of administrators and faculty, maintain an open and frank dialogue with parents and the public while utilizing the existing chain-of-command, keep an open mind, listen carefully and act fairly.
Ms. Snyder added, "I am running for school board not to change things but out of a willingness to give back to a school that has given so much to my children. I’m very pleased with the education that my children receive at Chesterfield Elementary School and they enjoy being there. I’m also impressed with the commitment of the faculty and staff."
Ms. Snyder is a member of the Allentown Presbyterian Church choir and is a youth group leader at the church.
She enjoys pottery in her spare time.
Deborah Kelly
Ms. Kelly, 47, a Buttonwood Street resident, has lived in the township for 15 years with her husband, Brian, and children Maeve, 10, and Braden, 8.
She is self-employed as a historic preservation consultant and has previously received a grant from the state Historical Commission for the N.J. Women’s Heritage Trail Project.
She has been a member of the Chesterfield Township Planning Board for 12 years.
Ms. Kelly is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in political science.
She received a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Pennsylvania.
Among the issues Ms. Kelly said would like to see the board address are:
Planning for future growth. "The anticipated growth in Chesterfield Township’s population over the next several years will likely produce a few hundred additional elementary school age children," she said. "The Chesterfield Elementary School has already taken the positive step of forming a committee of township residents to consider options of how to best deal with this projected increase in the student population. I feel that my 12 years of experience as a member of the Chesterfield Township Planning Board will allow me to make a positive contribution to this critical planning process in a way that will allow us to maintain the unique character of our school, as well as the special quality of life we have in Chesterfield Township.
• Improving test scores. "As in many other schools in New Jersey, there is a concern about standardized test scores in the Chesterfield Elementary School and a desire to raise the scores of our students," she said. "If elected to the Chesterfield Board of Education, I will work with the school administration to determine what can be done to accomplish the goal of improving our students’ standardized test scores, including a regular review of existing curriculum.
"While test scores are one important measure of achievement, I feel that increasing test scores should certainly not be the only goal of the curriculum, but should be balanced with the goal of crafting a curriculum that enriches the lives of our children and fosters a lifelong love of learning."
Increasing extra-curricular opportunities for students. "In the past few years, the dedicated teachers at the Chesterfield School have initiated some interesting extra-curricular programs for students, including a chess club, a choir, a bowling program, a musical production, a garden club, and some lunch-time book clubs," she said. "These activities have enriched the education of the students involved and the teachers should be commended. I feel that we could expand the existing, successful volunteer program at school and support the teachers in their efforts by reaching out to the entire community to involve Chesterfield residents who have a special skill or expertise they would be willing to share with our students.
"Examples of possible extra-curricular activities that could be offered to the Chesterfield students are: photography, tennis, astronomy, sewing, specialized advanced art and music classes, to name only a few possibilities."
Ms. Kelly is a member of the Chesterfield Township Historical Society, Crosswicks Community association, Preservation New Jersey and Chesterfield Township Public Education Fund.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, walking, biking and traveling.
FLORENCE TOWNSHIP
Coleen Campbell, James Carlani, William Federico, Joseph Fitzpatrick and Paul Ostrander have filed to run for the three three-year terms available on the Florence Board of Education. None of the candidates are incumbents.
Coleen Campbell
Ms. Campbell, 52, has lived in the school district for 37 years with her daughter, Bryana, 14. She is employed as a new business development manager for BioChem Immunosystems U.S.
She has been on the Township Planning Board for four years and was its vice-chairperson for one year.
Ms. Campbell also has served on the Landfill Commission for two years and the Environmental Commission for four months.
She has been the secretary of the Recreational Girls’ Softball Association for four years and a coach for five years.
She is a graduate of Florence Township High School, Burlington County Community College and the medical technology program at Mercer County College.
She also has taken business courses at the University of California at Irvine and has a Medical Laboratory Technologist certification from Helene Fuld School of Medical Technology.
She listed her honors and achievements as raising a physically challenged child and being the first female high school student in Florence to participate in an exchange program.
She also started the Girls’ Athletic Association as a high school student, which allowed females to participate in interscholastic sports.
She has received awards for sales performance in the diagnostic industry and for customer satisfaction and service. She also is a spokesperson for Cochlear Implants, a technology which assists the deaf and hearing-impaired.
Ms. Campbell is a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Florence Township Girls’ Softball Association, the American Association of Retired Persons, a vestry member and secretary for St. Stephen’s Church for four years and a member of the Biomedical Marketing Association.
Her hobbies are computers, reading and hiking with her daughter.
She lists the following three issues as the most important for the school district:
Financial accountability. Ms. Campbell said the Board of Education needs to demonstrate accountability not only to the taxpayers, but also the students. "The budget needs to be adjusted and appropriated in a manner to which the students will benefit and the schools will profit," said Ms. Campbell. "Examples of this would be access to the newest technologies and additional current books and criteria. With the state adding an additional burden on the local municipalities by cutting the allotted educational budgets, the BOE needs to think smarter in expending money allocated for education. We can no longer afford the luxury of a heavy overhead. We need to learn to run lean and clean in the future."
A more proactive special educational program. "Being a single parent of a hearing-impaired child, I bring to the table the issues, concerns and expertise many parents in the same situation are facing," said Ms. Campbell. "I am an advocate of seeking grants that are available from the federal level on down to assist in the development of programs which will result in bringing these students to a level where they will become productive and independent adults. Today’s programs do not effectively close the gaps found in many special education units. The end result are students ill-prepared to face life’s challenges and become a burden on society instead of a tax-paying asset."
Better communication with students. Ms. Campbell said better communication with students will permit a conduit for them to learn and value the position of the Board of Education, while at the same time give the BOE a heads-up in recognizing the challenges and concerns facing today’s youth. "It has to be a team effort for any program to run efficiently," said Ms. Campbell. "It also will allow the board to become a proactive integral part of the system, rather than a knee-jerking reactionary organization. Hindsight may be 20/20, but it is also a very costly and wasteful process. Today’s cutbacks will not permit this type of squandering of the township’s tax dollars."
James Carlani
Mr. Carlani has been a lifelong resident of the school district with his wife, Denise, and children: Douglas, 21, Jeffrey, 19, Michelle and Monica, 18, and Jennifer, 29. He also has two grandchildren: Caitlin Carey, 5, and Clark Carey Jr., 2.
He has been self-employed for 25 years as a painting contractor. He has been the Florence Housing Authority commissioner since 1993 and a member of the school board from 1995 to 1998.
He is a graduate of Florence High School.
He also has earned 25 credits of certification for the Housing Authority in redevelopment, policies, legal issues and procedures for Housing and Urban Development from Rutgers University. He also has a real estate license.
Mr. Carlani is a member of Holy Assumption PTA, the Knights of Columbus and a past member of the Florence Emergency Squad and Fire Company.
He also has been a coach for the Catholic Youth Organization’s Basketball League, the Florence Girls’ Recreation League, Florence Little and Minor leagues, Florence Recreation Girls and Boys Basketball League and the Girls’ Travel Softball.
His hobbies are fishing, reading, gardening, and watching Florence sports.
He lists the following three issues as the most important:
Communication. Mr. Carlani said there needs to be a better line of communication between the school board, teachers and the public. "How?" asked Mr. Carlani. "To be a school board member with an open ear to parents when they address issues and have answers for their concerns," he said.
More money in the classrooms. Mr. Carlani said the school board needs to filter more money into the classrooms and replace the 12 to 17-year-old textbooks. "How?" asked Mr. Carlani. "By stopping the merit bonuses in the administration office and the transfer of principals and their secretaries for no just reason; just politics."
Teamwork. Mr. Carlani said everyone needs to work together and not against each other.
William V. Federico
William V. Federico, 39, has been a resident of the school district for 15 years with his wife, Karen, and children: Julia, 12, Angela, 9, and Vincent, 7. He is a former employee of United Airlines and is currently employed as an aircraft maintenance and electronics technician for United Parcel Service.
He is a newcomer to the school board and is serving his third term on the Florence Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Mr. Federico also is president of the Florence Township Girls’ Softball Association, a member of the Florence Township middle and elementary school PTAs, a new member of the Florence Civic Association and a band booster for the high school marching band.
He also has coached recreational sports for the past seven years including girls’ softball, soccer and girls’ basketball.
He graduated from Vernon Township High School. He received an honorable discharge from active duty in the U.S. Air Force in 1985 and received good conduct, achievement and commendation medals.
He also is a 17-year member of the New Jersey Air National Guard. He has just returned from a seven-week tour of duty in Southwest Asia for Operation Enduring Freedom.
His hobbies include bike riding, home improvements, reading novels and his children.
Mr. Federico stated the following three issues as the most important:
Evaluation of school supplies. Mr. Federico said the children of Florence Township need the tools to get the most out of their education. "They need to have serviceable books, facilities that are not overcrowded and class equipment that is functional and safe," said Mr. Federico. "The schools need to perform a self-audit to see if all of the basic needs are met. Then we need to act upon any discrepancies immediately. If overcrowding is a problem, then community-led committees should be set up to explore all possibilities."
Post-high school education. "The school system trails other districts in test scores and continuing education enrollment after high school," said Mr. Federico. "We need to bring into the school system programs, computers and other technologies to enable students to raise their test scores and excel into the 21st century. We also need to better assist the parents in finding and securing scholarships."
Communication. "It seems that there is a lack of communication between the parents and teachers and the Board of Education," said Mr. Federico. "The school board should set a goal to be more pro-active in keeping parents informed. We should set up a system where parents’ questions or concerns are addressed in a timely and professional manner to avoid any misunderstandings. The line of communication should be open and free-flowing in both directions."
Joseph R. Fitzpatrick
Mr. Fitzpatrick, 40, has been a resident of the school district for 12 years with his wife, Susan, and children: Joe, 14, and Samantha, 11. He works as a district sales manager for Entenmann’s Bakery, where he has worked for 17 years.
He graduated from Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, Pa., and received an associate’s degree in business administration from Bucks County Community College.
He has coached a variety of youth sports in the township during the past 10 years including football, baseball and basketball. He also has participated in the PTA, food drives and various fund-raisers.
He also is a member of the Pit Club, a football team booster organization.
His hobbies are fishing and hunting.
Mr. Fitzpatrick lists the following issues as the most important:
Progressive education. "We need to strive to increase the students’ education using the most modern teaching techniques possible," said Mr. Fitzpatrick. "Both students and educators must set higher standards to ensure the future success of our students and educational system. Setting goals and standards that are challenging, but attainable, will be a main focus throughout my term."
Fiscal responsibilities. Mr. Fitzpatrick said board members are charged with creating and managing the school’s budget. "With state aid being frozen and operating costs increasing, this becomes a huge burden on our taxpayers," said Mr. Fitzpatrick. "Senior citizens and families on fixed incomes are being especially hit hard. As a board member, I will work towards cost containment. We need to be prudent in our spending without sacrificing the quality or integrity of our students and educators. I will work with the school board, administrators, teachers and community members to make this happen. I also believe we need to make some noise in Trenton to ensure that Florence Township is getting its fair share of funding."
Communication. "As a school board member, I will strive to improve the communication between the school board, educators and community members," said Mr. Fitzpatrick. "Having a business background, I realize that if people understand each other they work together more effectively. We must learn to listen and understand each other before we make conclusions. I believe we have the best teachers and administrators around. I know we have the best kids around. With proper communication and teamwork, we will have a school system we are all proud of."
Paul Ostrander
Mr. Ostrander, 48, has lived in the school district for 18 years with his wife, Patricia, and daughters, Jennifer, 22; Stephanie, 19; and Kimberly, 15.
He has been employed as the Director of Operations and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania for three years.
He graduated from North Haven High School in North Haven, Conn. and received a bachelor of science, math and engineering degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
He also has a master of science degree in management from the College of New Jersey. He also served in the U.S. Air Force for two years.
He has been the past president of the Florence Soccer League for three years and the past president of the Florence Girls’ Softball League for four.
He is a member of American Legion Post 194 and the Association of Higher Education Facilities’ Officers.
His hobby is golf.
Mr. Ostrander considers the following three issues the most important facing the school district:
Post-high school education. Mr. Ostrander said the district needs improvement in preparing high school students for college by improving course academics. He also said the district needs to offer an SAT-type preparation course as an elective for college-bound students.
Improvements in athletic facilities. "Florence is a community that derives great pride in the performance of its high school teams," said Mr. Ostrander. "Florence is lagging behind other school districts in the quality of its athletic facilities."
Strategic Planning. Mr. Ostrander said the district needs to establish a local district such as Moorestown as a standard of excellence and support leadership in meeting this goal.
NEW HANOVER
There are three seats up for election this year on the New Hanover Board of Education. Incumbents Wayne Wharton and Sharon Atkinson are running unopposed for re-election and newcomer Julie Malloy also is running unopposed. All terms are for three years.
None of the candidates returned profiles.
NORTH HANOVER
Incumbents Michael Grant and Edward Drechsel are running unopposed for the two three-year terms available on the school board.
Edward Drechsel
Mr. Drechsel, 74, is an incumbent who has lived in the township for 32 years with his wife, Marci. He has two sons: Edward Russell of Farmington, Maine, and Carl of Gloucester, Va., and has five grandchildren.
He is a retired division supervisor for General Public Utilities, where he worked for 42 years.
He was a school board member in Springfield Township and has been a member of the North Hanover Board of Education since 1980.
He graduated from Bartlett High School in Webster, Mass., and received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnical Institute.
He also received a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a doctorate in lumenology from the General Electric Institute.
He served three years in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1953.
His accomplishments include being listed in the "Who’s Who in Science and Engineering" and being honored by the Military Impacted Schools’ Association as a champion for children.
He is a life member of the American Legion, a member of the Air Force Association, the National Rifle Association, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Tuckerton Seaport Association, the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and the Employee Legislative Committee.
His hobby is coin and stamp collecting.
Mr. Drechsel lists the following three issues as the most important for the school district:
The functional capacity of the district’s schools. Mr. Drechsel said the school district needs to address the state’s mandate regarding the functional capacity of the district’s five schools. "Our newly prepared long-range facility plan addresses the needs of unhoused students, but will be reviewed for further enhancement," said Mr. Drechsel.
State laws. "One of the major problems in any school district is trying to keep up and address the ever-changing state mandates," said Mr. Drechsel. "By supporting the New Jersey School Boards Association, we have some voice in revising these mandates."
New federal laws. "This year a new problem rears its head in the implementation of the Federal Education Law, which states ‘no child shall be left behind,’ " said Mr. Drechsel. "We have to review the impact to our district, if needed, and try to get federal help where available."
Michael Grant
Mr. Grant did not return a questionnaire.
NORTHERN BURLINGTON
The Northern Burlington County Regional Board of Education has three seats available for re-election. Incumbent Kermit Pigott of Springfield is running unopposed for re-election to a three-year term.
Newcomers Thomas Sensbach of Mansfield and William Puglia of Chesterfield are running unopposed for three-year terms on the school board. Mr. Sensbach and Mr. Puglia will be replacing incumbents Diane Litecky of Mansfield and Mary Eldred of Chesterfield, who are not seeking re-election.
The state Department of Education has awarded Chesterfield a third seat in the recent reapportionment of the school board. There is currently no Chesterfield candidate running for the new seat.
Kermit Pigott
Mr. Pigott, 50, is an incumbent and a lifelong resident of the school district. He lives in Springfield Township with his wife, Debra, and children: Zachary, 18, Daniel, 17, Kara, 15, and Alyssa, 13.
He has worked as a telecommunications consultant for 21 years and has been employed by AT&T for four years.
If elected, it will be Mr. Pigott’s third term on Northern Burlington’s school board. He also served one three-year term on the Springfield Township Board of Education.
He is a graduate of Northern Burlington High School and has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Rider University.
He also has a master’s degree in telecommunications from Southern Methodist University.
He lists his hobby as golf.
Mr. Pigott listed growth as the most important issue facing the school district:
"Though the state requires a five-year facilities plan, we’ve created a 10-year plan," said Mr. Pigott. "Before the new middle school was approved by the voters in December 2000, we started on plans to expand the high school. We continue to add new teachers, new educational programs, new extra curricular and co-curricular programs. We’ve added new programs, both high school and adult education, in conjunction with Burlington County Community College. We’ve done this while still trying to keep tax increases at a minimum. In fact, our shared technology and transportation services for the regional district resulted in a $250,000 refund from the state that went directly to the municipalities. The programs themselves have saved the district thousands of dollars."
Thomas Sensbach
Mr. Sensbach, 45, has lived in the school district for 14 years with his wife, Debra, and children Krysta, 19, and Erika, 15. A newcomer to the school board, Mr. Sensbach has been employed for six years as a regional manager for CertainTeed Corporation.
He has been on the Mansfield zoning board for two years, the Township Recreation Committee for three years and the Mansfield Township Community Task Force for two years. He also has been a member of the National Ski Patrol for 23 years.
A graduate of Kinnelon High School, Mr. Sensbach also has a bachelor’s degree in education from William Paterson University.
He is listed in the "2000 Who’s Who of Professionals."
His hobbies include golfing, skiing and reading.
Mr. Sensbach lists the following issues as the three most important in the school district:
Increases in student population. "With the rapid growth of Mansfield Township, there has been a significant increase in the student population," said Mr. Sensbach. "We need to continue to provide a high quality of education, manageable class sizes and the curricular and extracurricular programs which students are entitled and accustomed to at Northern Burlington."
School taxes. "The financial burden on a growing district such as Northern Burlington is overwhelming," said Mr. Sensbach. "We need to continue to be persistent with government officials to insure that revenues from federal and state sources are fully realized. Maintaining shared services with sending districts will assist with stabilization of school taxes."
Construction of the new middle school. Mr. Sensbach said the school district needs to move forward in a timely manner with the construction of the new middle school and insure the completion of this facility within budget and state specificatiojs. "I believe that my 25 years of experience in various aspects of the construction industry will enhance my role as a member of the Northern Burlington Regional Board of Education," said Mr. Sensbach.
William Puglia
Mr. Puglia did not return a questionnaire.
SPRINGFIELD
Incumbents Ralph King, John Linton and Robert Melillo are running unopposed for the three open seats on the school board. All terms are for three years.
None of the candidates returned profiles.