T wo residents of Manalapan are seeking election to represent the township on the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education. Under the board’s voting system, residents of Manalapan and Englishtown will vote for the Manalapan representative in the April 21 school election.
The candidates for the three-year term are Patricia Horvath and Jennifer Sutera.
Sutera, 52, has been living in Manalapan for 10 years. She is a teacher. She has a child who is a junior at Manalapan High School.
Horvath, 73, has been living in Manalapan since 1965. She is completing her ninth threeyear term on the FRHSD board.
The candidates were asked the following questions and their answers follow.
What do you believe makes you a qualified candidate for a seat on the board?
Jennifer Sutera: I am an educator of 30 years and have firsthand knowledge of how a school should work, meeting the needs of the students, and what the Board of Education needs to do to enhance an effective school district. I am able to view our district from the perspective of a teacher and also a parent. Two of my children have already graduated from Manalapan High School and my third is expected to graduate in 2010. I have seen the decline of the district since my oldest was a freshman.
My experience and education allow me to bring new ideas to enhance school programs and to cut the unnecessary and wasteful spending that deprives our students from expanding their educational opportunities. I believe we need to run our schools more efficiently and focus on ways to better educate our students. I would also like to establish better communications with the taxpaying residents and disclose the school board’s proposed programs and its spending, because the taxpayers have a right to know.
Patricia Horvath: As a board member with advanced training and experience, I am familiar with labor issues and negotiations, NJ statutes 18A, personnel matters, tenure laws and the complex budget process. In seeking my 10th term in the district I made valuable connections to our school community, our professional staff and our students.
I have attended numerous school events, acknowledge the accomplishments of our students and praise the efforts of our teachers and support staff. As an experienced board member I had the opportunity to observe the style and vision of three uniquely different superintendents, the growth of the district from five schools and one learning center to six schools, seven learning centers and six academies.
I have worked with administration to establish district goals and objectives while always being mindful of my responsibility to the taxpayers. As board president, I have taken a leadership role in charting a course of excellence in our district for all our students. I am knowledgeable, experienced, caring and ded- icated and hope to continue my role as the Manalapan board member in the FRHSD.
What do you consider to be the most pressing issues the school district faces at this time and what would you do as a board member to help resolve these issues?
Patricia Horvath: The issues facing the district are the dissolution of the FRHSD (as is being considered by the state), the tax impact on all the districts in the regional and the effect on all our students who now have extensive curriculum offerings and extracurricular activities. The district must communicate to the parents and taxpayers all issues and findings pertaining to this matter. The district must keep up with the constant change of advanced technology. Drug and alcohol abuse is a major concern due to the availability of prescription drugs. Awareness programs should continue.
Jennifer Sutera: We need to raise our children’s test scores, making them more competitive as they apply for higher education and seek careers. We need to formulate a budget that is affordable to the taxpayer, but still provides the best possible education. We need an administration that is accountable to the parents and dictates to the superintendent, not the reverse.
Within the last year, we learned our district prepaid tuition for worthless degrees. We have teachers and the superintendent going on costly conventions and seminars held out of state, driving a luxury SUV and other frivolous expenses that we can do without. In addition to this wasteful spending, we have seen thousand of dollars spent on legal fees. The needs of our students are our priority and tax dollars should be used primarily to enhance the high school experience for each and every one of them.
Do you have any relatives who work for this school district?
Jennifer Sutera: Absolutely not and neither should anyone sitting on the FRHSD school board. The school board should not be intimidated using their relatives as leverage. I will not permit that.
Patricia Horvath: No relatives working for the school district.
If you are elected to the board you may be serving when the superintendent’s contract is up for renewal. What is your position on his future in the district?
Patricia Horvath: Since I am a board member, it is inappropriate for me to make a comment pertaining to the superintendent’s future in the district. The full board must make a decision one year prior to the expiration of the superintendent’s contract.
Jennifer Sutera: I believe it would be beneficial for the FRHSD to exercise its options. Since we are the largest school district in the state, we need to find the best possible candidate for the job and who is available at the time. We need to find an individual with high qualifications, experience and integrity to give our school system the best educational opportunities it can offer for our children

