BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — Five candidates will vie for two open seats in the region’s upcoming Board of Education elections.
Those elected on April 19 will serve three-year terms on the Upper Freehold Regional School District’s Board of Education.
The two open seats currently belong to Jennifer DeMauro, who decided not to seek re-election, and Tia McLaughlin, the incumbent who served one year of an unexpired term.
McLaughlin, 33, of Allentown, is married with two children. She works in Howell as a learning disabilities teacher consultant (LDTC).
When asked why she decided to run for re-election, McLaughlin said, “I’ve lived in the community for eight years and would like to continue to improve communication between the community and the school district.”
McLaughlin said she wants to work with the board to develop “sound and sensible budgets” and to “see the middle school vision become a reality.”
“I believe people on the school board should be passionate about the education of our children and not have personal agendas,” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said the district will face some important issues in the upcoming years.
“The most important, pressing issue at the moment is finding the right fit for a new superintendent for our district,” McLaughlin said.
Superintendent Robert Connelly announced in February that he will resign this year.
“After seeing how this board runs with an effective superintendent, I feel I have the insight for the types of qualities the district needs for Dr. Connelly’s replacement in September 2005,” McLaughlin said.
Lisa A. Herzer, 44, of Allentown, will also run for a seat. A certified public accountant at Bartolomei Pucciarelli in Lawrenceville, she is married with three children.
Herzer said she decided to run for the board for several reasons.
“As evidenced by my role as co-chair of the Yes Committee, I feel I have demonstrated to this town that I am willing to work hard and put the interests of the children in this district first,” Herzer said.
Her work on the Yes Committee, a group of locals that helped board members develop and pass the recent middle school referendum, proves she works well with current board members, Herzer said.
“This is critical with all the tough decisions that the board will face in the next few years,” she said.
In addition, Herzer said her accounting background will be an asset in preparing budgets and addressing financial issues. She also said having three children in the district, with two in high school, gives her firsthand knowledge of the issues students face.
Herzer said it will be hard for the board to find a superintendent to fill Connelly’s shoes.
“I feel fortunate I worked with him so closely on the referendum this past year,” Herzer said. “He demonstrated to me the qualities a superintendent needs [in order] to be successful and effective.”
Herzer said the board will also have to pay close attention to the construction of the middle school and issues surrounding it, such as enrollment growth. The board will also have to control costs in the budget, she said, without sacrificing the quality of education.
“School costs in a growing community, in conjunction with the loss of state aid and the constraints placed on budget growth by recently enacted legislation, all result in the need to look to new and innovative ways to finance the needs of our schools,” Herzer said. “One such way is the utilization of an educational foundation for this community.”
Christopher J. Shaw, 35, of Allentown, will also run for board election. Married with three children, he is the chief executive officer of a property management company.
Shaw, whose father was a minister and whose mother was a nurse, said he grew up with a strong commitment to help others. He said his concern for children, strong business sense and broad understanding of school curriculum, policy and staffing issues make him a viable candidate for the board.
Shaw said searching for a new superintendent is “important” and “exciting.”
“I know how vital it is to find a qualified person who brings a wealth of experiences, has a similar vision for the future of our district and will continue to uphold the high level of education that we have here in Upper Freehold,” Shaw said.
Shaw wants to find a superintendent who understands the community and its diversity.
“Finding a special person who will draw our community together to benefit our children is imperative,” Shaw said.
Joseph Stampe, 39, of Upper Freehold, will also compete for a seat on the board. Married with three children, Stampe serves as the vice president for development at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), with multiple New Jersey campuses.
Stampe said his experience in conducting searches for staff and other high-level academic positions makes him uniquely qualified for a position on the board.
“We must ensure [that] we select a new superintendent who demonstrates the same level of professionalism as Dr. Connelly, who can successfully manage the growth of the system and continue Connelly’s legacy of improving the curriculum,” Stampe said.
Stampe said the board must commit to finding an individual who promotes educational excellence.
“My goal would be to hire a superintendent who has demonstrated an advocacy for children and an ability to embrace the community at large,” Stampe said.
As a board member, Stampe said he would want to “manage growth with fiscal responsibility.” Having worked in the nonprofit sector, Stampe said he had to meet or exceed performance expectations with limited resources.
“The challenge that our community currently faces is how to manage the growth in such a way that will not unduly burden the taxpayers,” Stampe said.
Stampe would also like to improve school security and safety.
“As a community, nothing is more important than the safety of our children,” he said. “Recent tragic events on school campuses, both at home and abroad, underscore the reality of this issue and the importance of being proactive.”
Working at a private security firm to put himself through college, Stampe said, taught him how simple, creative and cost-effective steps could improve public safety and deter crime.
Joseph Toscano, 53, of Cream Ridge, will also run for board election. He is married with four children and owns LTS Cream Ridge Equipment.
“I could do a lot to help the board and education in the township,” Toscano said. “A balance of education, academics, social development, athletics and recreation is my purpose. I am always available in the township.”
Toscano said the most important district issue is the building of the new middle school.
“As a union ironworker for 35 years, I have experience in building schools, municipal buildings and sewage treatment plants,” Toscano said. “I do not see how the school can be built for $39 million. An 18-month estimate can’t be conclusive today.”
Toscano said he would bring his expertise in building to the board.
“As a Planning Board member for the past nine years, I can increase communication between the school and the town,” Toscano said.
Kathryn Wolden will run unopposed for the Allentown seat on the board. Vice Chairman Donald Lilley, who will vacate the seat this year, will not seek re-election.
Wolden, 49, of Allentown, is married with two daughters. She works part time as a teacher at SciCore Academy in Hightstown and also substitutes for the Upper Freehold Regional School District. She is an editor as well, with more than 20 years of experience in research, product development, project management and production in the publishing industry.
When asked why she decided to run, Wolden said, “After nearly 15 years in Allentown Borough, I’ve seen enormous change and growth in our community and our school district.
“As both a parent volunteer and a substitute teacher,” she said, “I have been personally involved with students, teachers and administrators.”
As co-chair of the Yes Committee, Wolden said she learned how schools depend on community and parental involvement for continued success.
“School districts and students face huge challenges today, both economically and academically,” Wolden said. “Both can only realize their potential and be their best when schools, families and the community form a true partnership and engage in a real planning process.
“I can contribute to creating that kind of partnership,” Wolden said.
Wolden believes the district’s biggest challenges include planning for and managing continual growth when the state has frozen educational spending and federal mandates have increased.
“At the same time,” Wolden said, “we need to ensure that we are maintaining or increasing the quality of the programs for students and holding down class sizes.”