Four in race for three seats on Jackson board
JACKSON — Four residents are seeking three three-year terms on the Jackson School District Board of Education in the Nov. 6 election.
The candidates are Marvin Krakower, Tracey Murnane, Theresa Schiazza and Adam Silvan.
Krakower, Murnane and Schiazza are current members of the board. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 6.
Silvan was asked the following question:
What do you think are the two most important issues facing the school district and what would you do to address them if you are elected to the board?
Silvan: The most important issue facing the Jackson School District is our ongoing superintendent search (current superintendent
Tom Gialanella will retire in June 2013). If elected, I will play an active role, understanding just how important the superintendent is to our schools.
Candidates must possess the goals and values our district has put in place. The superintendent is responsible for the effective operation of the district, including academic, administration and financial decisions.
We must find someone to make impartial and sometimes difficult recommendations to the board regarding the best course of action for our district as a whole.
Another issue facing our district is keeping the education level at the high standards we have all come to expect, and deserve, while keeping the tax burden as low as possible. We must continue to fund the vital programs, as well as determine if new programs are needed. We can continue to grow education levels while avoiding tax increase to our homeowners.
The three incumbents seeking re-election were asked the following question: What do you think are the two most important issues facing the district and what have you done to address them during your time on the board?
Krakower: The hiring of a new superintendent (as the board is faced with now) is the board’s most important decision. With my experience, I can help with picking the best candidate. The loss of state aid over the years has hurt our students. We are working with less money. I have been creative financially and we have not Krakower (cont.): stopped advancing education. This will be an issue for years to come. With my help we can overcome the loss of money and continue to grow as a district.
Murnane: It is difficult to focus on only two issues facing the Jackson School District, but fiscal concerns and the superintendent search top the list. This past year, the board committed to keep the school budgetwithina2percenttaxlevycap.This is a significant achievement that provides the district a definitive budget for planning the school year. As state aid fluctuates and the economy impacts Jackson taxpayers, I believe this was a sound decision that places the responsibility to remain under the cap on the administration. No surprises or overextensions to the taxpayer.
The superintendent will lead the district’s vision over the next several years. My goal (in seeking a new superintendent) is to find an educational visionary who has solid fiscal sense, in-class experience that translates to better classroom instruction and understands that the community is a partner. To do this, I have helped craft the search plan the board has implemented.
Schiazza: Educational reform continues in New Jersey. Common Core Standards are being developed and full administration of new testing will begin in 2014 for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). The board has been keeping a close watch on the progress of the PARCC initiative to ensure we are prepared for a smooth transition for our students and educators.
New teacher evaluation systems are set for the 2013 school year. Jackson has been planning for this new legislation and will implement the Marzano Evaluation Method this year. This in-depth evaluation system outlines and identifies in-class techniques which have been proven to increase student performance.
Budgets will always be an issue and a topic for discussion, but increasing student performance and maximizing student potential should always be a district’s goal and focus. The Jackson Board of Education has taken a proactive approach to new reforms and benchmarks outlined by the state.