‘Extra effort’ may have made difference in her choice
By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Last weekend, after she had applied to be considered for a vacant Board of Education position, Dana Boguszewski went around her Beverly Road neighborhood asking people what concerns they might have with the local school system.
That extra effort may have made the difference in winning the interim appointment from the school board Monday night in a two-ballot, one-vote decision.
Board member Christopher Pulsifer, who nominated Ms. Boguszewski, was struck by her story.
”I liked her example of going out to talk to people,” he said after the meeting. “It shows an open-minded approach.”
The vacancy was created with the resignation of Barbara Sargent, who will become the superintendent of the neighboring Readington Township schools, a K-8 district in Hunterdon County. She begins there July 1. She left a job as assistant superintendent for curriculum in the Madison (Morris) school district.
Ms. Boguszewski will serve through next April. She could choose to file next spring for election to a full term.
After a half-hour closed session, the choice between Ms. Boguszewski and Peter Bambic, of Wesley Road, split the board. In the final ballot, board President Steve Paget switched his vote to join Thuy An Le, Marc Rosenberg, Judy Haas and Mr. Pulsifer in supplying the necessary five votes. Greg Gillette, Thomas Kinst and Jennifer Haley voted for Mr. Bambic.
In the first round, Ms. Haas supported Vernon Spencer Sr., of Bloomingdale Drive. When no one candidate achieved a majority, the choice narrowed to two on a second ballot.
In her informal survey, Ms. Boguszewski talked to about 30 people, she said. The only thing that concerned some people was the possibility of growing class sizes, she said.
Ms. Boguszewski, a nurse in a local pediatric emergency room, has lived in Hillsborough 10 years. She’s active in medical-related charities, especially in raising money, and was particularly pleased with the school district’s help in evaluating and treating her 4-year-old son, who has a disability that caused him to delay speaking.
That experience touched her, she said.
”I have never loved a community more,” she said. “I can’t imagine having a better community.”
She was so moved that she said she was pleased to pay her taxes, knowing what she was receiving.
Seven people had expressed interest in being chosen for the Board of Education vacancy. Two Constance Harbin and William Kole withdrew before Monday’s meeting.
Board members had sent each candidate a letter, asking them to address certain topics why they didn’t run in April, how they would address charter schools, their vision of how a board member fits in running the schools, etc.
Mr. Bambic said he and his family have lived in the township for eight years, and he had taught marketing-related subjects in universities.
He had 20-plus years experience in senior-level sales, most recently with Johnson & Johnson, he said, and he had a “global view” from living outside the United States for eight years.
He said he would consider fees for nonschool groups that use school buildings after hours and would examine core curriculum “from the bottom up.”
”Do we need to teach Chinese … or Latin?” he asked rhetorically.
He said he was concerned charter schools have “overpromised and underperformed” and might siphon money from the district.
Mr. Spencer told the board he believed “public education offers the best opportunity to social development.” A math teacher at the Thomas Jefferson Academy in Paterson, he said he was “seizing the opportunity to give back” by throwing his hat in the ring.
He said he would look to collaborate with other districts in areas like transportation to achieve efficiency. He said he saw himself in an advisory role to the responsible officer,” the superintendent.
As for charters, he said he would try to convince state legislators charters would not be a benefit to Hillsborough. He also would have voters approve charters and try to profile the type of student who might be attracted to a charter school and develop a similar program in the public school.
Steven Sloan, of Wolfe Drive, stressed his lengthy resume in volunteering for the schools and his service on the school board from 2000-07. He pointed his roles in campaigning for building referenda, starting the mock trial team and advocating for a turf athletic field, band trailer, enhanced website and instant alert system.
He said he was “relieved” when the budget passed this year “in light of the threat of privatization” and said he believed “our investment in technology will be useful if implemented in the classroom in the right way.”
David DeFreese, of VanFleet Court, a township resident since 2002, said he would “challenge the administration to see what more we could do with what we have.” He was concerned how the district could develop a “glide path” to cope with state budget aid cuts and mandates and consistently deliver a balanced budget.
He wanted to “leverage access” to universities in the area for both education and the arts, he said. He’s one of hundreds of Princeton University alumni who interviews applicants to the university.
After the interviews, the board deliberated whether to go into closed session to talk about the candidates or to hold the discussion in public. Ms. Haas and Mr. Kinst voted against the private session. Ms. Haley and Mr. Gillette said they didn’t see the need for a closed session, but didn’t want to be a “stumbling block” to those who wanted to discuss the choice privately.

