SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES

Editor’s note: To help voters get to know the candidates for the school board, the Manville News has asked each to submit answers to three questions. This week, we asked what candidates would seek to try and do if elected and what their best idea for helping the schools is. The election for three, three-year seats on the Board of Education will be held April 18.

Question 2: What topic would you focus your energy on as a school board member and what would you hope to accomplish in the next year? Are there committee assignments you would hope to receive if elected? Are there particular areas of concern you would like to address if elected?
Herman Brunn
   I am concerned about all students especially those with special needs. I would like to know what programs are currently available to them and how effective they have been within the district. Additionally, since money is tight, fiscal prudence would be important to monitor. I am not beholden to any particular committee, if elected by the townspeople.
Frances Brunn
   I am concerned with current pedagogical practices and would insist that the curriculum is current, teachers get the training they need and the technology is adequate for the staff.
Mary Brunn
   I know the importance of trust and positive thinking within organizations; I would expect these qualities be present within the current administration. Therefore, I may direct some of my efforts to the personnel committee in order to help monitor current staff and hire productive, caring, cerebral people.
Joe Burris
   No response provided.
Ken Lessing
   There isn’t a single area of focus, as your question asks for me in the future if I hopefully am re-elected. I would like to be on the Finance and Facility, Policy or Curriculum committee. I would like to continue to be the representative to the Somerset County Educational Services Commission.
   I would work to continue having a Board of Education that works well together with our superintendent. I would like to continue to upgrade our school policy. I would like to ensure that our children have the best curriculum to prepare them for their future.
Ned Panfile
   My energy will be focused on making sure every student receives a thorough and efficient education, increasing the student scores while keeping the taxpayer in mind.
   The committees I wish to serve on are Curriculum Instruction (student activities), and personnel.
   I would like to continue to provide a safe environment for the teachers and students so that the flow of the learning process is not interrupted.
Alex Tomari
   As a school board member, I feel it would not be wise to focus on only one area. Our schools are enjoyed by a student body that is comprised of different backgrounds and needs.
   To target one specific group would be unjust to the rest of the students. I prefer a holistic approach. The board should look at the district as a whole and find our weak areas and bring those needs up to a level with the rest of the district.
   I feel all the students should be treated on a level playing field. We shouldn’t favor one group over another just because our child is in that particular group. As a parent of two students in our schools I would like them and all the other children in our schools to get the best possible education they can.
   We must remember that our children are our future and we need to support them by giving them the finest education available. I want to serve our taxpayers and children by working hard to consider all of our district’s educational and creative needs.
   Manville’s taxpayers and students can trust me to be fair in considering what our schools need. I would like to be a member of The Board of Education so that I can take a direct part in providing a stronger future for our children and our town. I would also like to be part of the facilities committee because the building is your first impression of the school, and if your first impression is favorable the rest of your experience should be good.
   The education our children are getting is of quality, and then the environment should also be conducive to learning and safe for them. The environment is as important as the material the children are learning.
Andrew Zangara
   As a board member, the biggest challenge is to produce fiscally responsible budget that will be passed every year.
   With the state of New Jersey aid being flat, we are being asked to do more with less. I would like to be a contributor to the financial process.
   Every year costs of energy, salaries, and supplies rise. We need to constantly oversee the budget line items and look for unexpended dollars that could be spent in other areas such as textbooks and library books.
   The unfunded federal mandate of "No Child Left Behind" is our largest unknown. Our district has been doing a great job of meeting the requirements, but this is a constant changing variable.
   I would like to see our district continue to provide the necessary programs within our budget.
   With the ever-changing programs, we need to create and update policies. I would like to be part of the process. I have had experience with the board policy making. I will always be available to bring out the best in our students. As the world’s technology advances, we need to look ahead and be proactive in policy making not reactive.
Question 3: What is the best idea you have heard to improve Manville schools? Please be as specific as possible.
Herman Brunn
   As with any complex organization, there is no one item that is of seminal importance. However, I think continuing to hire and retain quality teachers should be paramount among any list of improvements to our schools.
Frances Brunn
   Making teacher training a priority is important. Also, with the New Jersey State Law 1701, dealing with limiting administrative costs of running a district, I would expect a judicious expenditure of monies within our school system.
Mary Brunn
   I would hope we would develop a positive, student- and staff-oriented working environment for everyone within our school system. Ideas from the staff, student and community need to be brought to the forefront and encouraged within the district.
Joe Burris
   No response provided.
Ken Lessing
   I will work with the Board to make our school budget work for us. Getting the most of our budgeted monies is a priority as always. I will work towards trying to keep our school budget from causing an undue tax increase for our large senior population living on fixed incomes.
   I will work to get the best education for our children, the best working environment for the children and staff. The children, staff and visitors safety in our schools is the utmost importance and I will continue to be vigilant in ensuring that is accomplished.
   I am proud to be a member of the present Board of Education. I thank our voters for their support and I hope they allow me to continue to work for them and the betterment of our community.
Ned Panfile
   My idea to improve the Manville schools would be that every student has the opportunity to advance his or her education to the highest level they can achieve and to continue to monitor the safety and security of the schools.
Alex Tomari
   Manville’s schools are on an upswing. With our present administration and principals, our district has a bright future.
   I would like to see that our schools get what they need but I would also like to see them get more of what they want.
   We are somewhat limited by our annual budgets to provide the extras for our children. Once we have spent our budgetary monies on salaries, benefits, lighting, transportation, maintenance, etc. we have a very small amount of money to work with for giving extras to our schools.
   I would like to bring on a panel of volunteers to be involved in grant research and writing. With the grants that we could acquire, we could do more for our children without putting any more financial strain on the taxpayers.
   I would be happy to lead community volunteers in this project.
Andrew Zangara
   As a parent of three children, I want my children to be prepared for adult life when they graduate high school.
   Exposing our students to technology at a young age is imperative to their learning process. I would like to have more math and science exposure in the K-5 grades. This does come at a price but with continued budget monitoring, we can always find a way to bring new curriculum to the students.
   As our teachers get more specialized, so will our students. We do need to keep our staff growing in knowledge and experience.
   Staff turnover will hinder our goals and I will do everything I can to create a staff friendly environment in Manville.