HILLSBOROUGH: School board candidates tout skills

   Each year, the Hillsborough Beacon offers candidates for the Board of Education the opportunity to share their backgrounds and ideas for the school district directly with voters, to help voters become better informed. This week, we offer the five candidates’ biographies in their own words. (Incumbent candidates are indicated by an asterisk).
   Next week, we’ll share their answers to two questions: what would you hope to accomplish on the board if elected?, and what’s your best idea for improving schools?
Thomas Kinst
   My wife and I have made our home in Hillsborough over the past eight years. Two of our children attend Sunnymead Elementary School with our other two about to enter the system.
   Our family is active in the community including science fairs, YMCA, Little League, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Ship’s Galley and Food Bank charities. I serve on the Greater Raritan Workforce Investment Board and on Hillsborough’s Architectural Design Standard Subcommittee.
   My public education has empowered me to be successful. I have earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering at Boston University with honors and an MBA at Northeastern University. I have worked in the medical device industry over the past 15 years in research and development, marketing and strategic planning at both start-up and well-established companies.
   As an engineer, entrepreneur and innovator, I have identified root problems and developed creative, executable and effective solutions in many different venues. I bring experience in creating, managing and balancing multi-million dollar budgets. I understand the impacts of the decisions we make. I am comfortable in challenging the status quo and in having others challenge me.
   Whether in the private sector or the public sector, we must provide value to the customer. For the HBOE, the customers are the student, the parents and the taxpayers. I will keep the customers at the forefront of every decision the HBOE makes.
   You have my commitment to clear communication, prudent decision-making and strong performance. As elected officials, we are accountable.
Steven Paget*
   My wife and I have lived in Hillsborough since 1997 with our children, a recent Hillsborough High School graduate and a current middle school student.
   I am a product of public education which equipped me to earn a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and doctorate in chemistry from Ohio State University. I have been employed as a pharmaceutical chemist since graduate school doing antibiotic and antiviral discovery research.
   I am an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 1776 and before that was Cubmaster for Pack 189. I have coached soccer, first in the recreation program and now with the Hillsborough Soccer Club. My wife and I have been science demonstrators, science fair and First Lego League judges. We are active parishioners at St. Joseph Church.
   I have been on the board for three years and served on several different committees including personnel, finance, communications, negotiations, strategic planning, and the Somerset County Education Commission. I have learned on the job and from training and classes. Finance training was especially useful to understand the state laws that govern state funding of the district.
   As a scientist, I analyze data, draw conclusions and come up with creative solutions. I also listen, to the people in town, parents, administrators and other board members.
   These tools are extremely valuable on the board where you are presented with test scores, discipline stats, and financial details and need to make the best choice for the district. I have the skills and experience to balance educational priorities and fiscal prudency.
Nick Pampani
   I am a 20-year resident of Hillsborough and a proud alumni of the school system.
   Since graduating I have been continuing my education and over the past year I have shifted my focusing to giving back to our community.
   When the opportunity arose to run for the Board of Education I felt this would be to perfect opportunity to give back while utilizing all my knowledge and ability in the best way possible.
   I feel my firsthand knowledge of the school system combined with my background in finance is the perfect combination to excel our school system into the next level, while still doing this in a fiscally responsible way.
   I can be reached at 908-227-5345, or [email protected]
Marc Rosenberg*
   My wife and I have lived in Hillsborough for almost 27 years. Our son is a 2008 graduate of Hillsborough High School.
   We are involved with the Hillsborough Band Parents Association and Boy Scout Troop 89. We volunteered at many science and book fairs when our son attended Amsterdam and Hillsborough Elementary Schools, and Hillsborough Middle School. We were also actively involved in the construction of the Hillsborough Community Playground.
   My 30-year career in education helps me understand the challenges and opportunities facing our schools and the education of our children. I have a master’s and doctorate degrees in education, and a bachelor’s in communications and marketing. I was a professor of teacher education before joining the business world.
   In my 18-year career with AT&T (now retired), I managed and directed all aspects of corporate education, including instructor training, curriculum development, education strategy and learning technology. I am now a management consultant and keynote speaker in the field of education and training, and have written two books and over 50 professional articles and book chapters in the field.
   I have been a member of the Hillsborough Board of Education for three years and have received three years of specialized training in “school boardsman-ship.” I serve on the Communications, Curriculum, and Policy Committees. I am the current chairman of the Policy Committee and former chairman of the Communications and Strategic Planning Committees. I am also the board’s liaison to the New Jersey School Boards Association.
   Get more information at www.MARCforBOE.com.
Barbara Sargent
   I have been pleased and proud to call Hillsborough my home since I moved here as a young teacher in 1987. In the years since then, I married Dr. Christopher Obropta, a 1981 graduate of Hillsborough High School and now an associate professor in the Environmental Science department at Rutgers University.
   We have three sons who are students at Woods Road School, Auten Road School, and Hillsborough Middle School. I have served as the Woods Road Home and School president and corresponding secretary in recent years, and currently chair the Book Nook and the Classroom Library Committees.
   I have a doctorate in educational administration from Seton Hall University and have held leadership positions in a number of districts. I was a Language Arts supervisor for the Somerset Hills School District, principal of Orchard Hill and Village Elementary Schools in Montgomery Township, and am currently the assistant superintendent for the Madison School District.
   I bring more than 20 years of experience in educational leadership to a school board position, and am conversant in the programs and best practices in place around New Jersey.
   I believe that my commitment to quality education, combined with common sense and a practical, pragmatic nature, make me the ideal candidate to help move our fine district forward.
David Wald
   My wife and I moved to Hillsborough in 2002. When deciding where in Somerset County to move to, we chose Hillsborough due to the excellent school system and its curriculum that was offered.
   Our children attend Triangle Elementary and Auten Road Intermediate Schools. I am very active in the schools volunteering for many different events associated with the Home and School Associations and I chaired last year’s Fun Fair at Triangle School.
   In addition, I currently serve on the Hillsborough Board of Adjustment and Credit Card Advisory Committee and serve as a coach on the Hillsborough Baseball League.
   The reason I have decided to run for the Hillsborough Board of Education is that I want to give something back to the town and people that live here. This is really a great community that truly believes that we need to give our children the best possible education so that they are prepared for college and the future. I am running so that I can continue to make sure we do everything possible to keep our taxes stable while keeping Hillsborough schools one of the best in New Jersey and continuing to make us one of the top 100 places to live.
   I think the voters should elect me knowing that I will do everything I can to give their children the best possible education and at the same time keeping our taxes stable. If elected, I will be an independent thinking member of the board and vote for what I feel is in the best interest for all of our students, teachers and residents of Hillsborough.
   Since college, I have been in sales. With this experience, I am well qualified in many things such as management, marketing, negotiation, personnel, purchasing and training. During my career, I have created budgets and have been responsible for profit and loss statements. I have implemented many cost saving programs and hired many successful employees.
   I would like to bring this experience to the Board of Education. It is time for new leadership, someone with fresh ideas. I will make the tough decisions at the right time and always do what I feel is in the best interest for all of our students, teachers and residents of Hillsborough.