Three candidates will be unopposed for the Board of Education this year including two incumbents and one challenger.
By Ed Birch, Special Writer
Three candidates will be unopposed for the Board of Education this year including two incumbents and one challenger.
As of the filing deadline for candidates last week, incumbents Harry Delgado and Daniel Boyle filed papers for re-election to the panel, and challenger Azra Baig filed the third petition, according to the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office.
Board Vice President Deborah Taylor did not file and said she will not seek another term on the board.
”As much as I enjoy serving on the board, based on careful thought and consideration I decided, after seven years, it’s time for someone for else to experience the honor,” Ms. Taylor said.
Because only three people filed in the race, the three open seats are uncontested and the candidates should each win a three-year term in the November elections.
Ms. Baig, who has two children enrolled in the district, ran for the board last year, narrowly losing to incumbent Barry Nathanson for the third open seat.
”I feel the board should reflect the culturally diverse demographics that exists in our community,” Ms. Baig said. “Even though I was born and raised in the United States, I feel I have a strong understanding of the cultural needs of the population of this school district.”
She been an active parent serving as a class mom, a member of the PTOs, attending athletic events and other school events, and is a member of the Viking Athletic Club.
Ms. Baig said she decided to run for a position on the board last year for the first time, and it was a great experience.
That experience reinforced her desire to run for a seat again this year.
”I feel it is important to have equal representation of parents with students in the school system on the Board of Education,” Ms. Baig said. “We need to be actively engaged in activities related to the school and be knowledgeable of current issues.”
She said that besides being a familiar face to the community, she feels that she represents the diverse demographics in the district.
With Ms. Taylor stepping down, she will be the only woman on the board when the new panel is seated in January.
”I feel it is vital to have a ‘mom’s’ perspective,” Ms. Baig said. “Furthermore, I look forward to working with the other members of the board to continue to make decisions to help provide the best quality education and to ‘maintain an environment that promotes intellectual challenge, creativity, social and emotional growth and healthy physical development of each student.’”
The longest serving member on the board, Harry Delgado, said the important issues facing the panel, including a search for a new superintendent, led to his decision to seek another term.
”Our School District enjoys a well-deserved reputation and finding a leader to continue this important work is crucial,” he said.
Superintendent Dr. Gary McCartney said this week that he will leave the district at the end of the next school year in June 2014 after 10 years in the position.
Mr. Delgado said that changes in the evaluation process for teachers and administrators also would be important issues for members of the board to deal with.
”New Jersey is entering into uncharted waters with the new teacher and principal evaluation requirements beginning next school year,” Mr. Delgado said. “My experience as a long-standing South Brunswick board member as well as my statewide experience in leading the New Jersey School Boards Association has allowed me to gain great insights about school board leadership.”
Mr. Delgado is a retired captain from the South Brunswick Police Department.
Incumbent Daniel Boyle said his decision to run for a second term was based on the challenges facing public education in the near future.
”The district is facing several challenges in the next few years such as the new evaluation system, the new state standards and the retirement of senior staff,” Mr. Boyle said. “I find these challenges exciting as all of them have the potential to impact our district in a significant way, and I will bring some critical thinking to the process of facing these challenges.”
He said that with regard to the new evaluation system, the board will be responsible for ensuring the system it has adopted is working as anticipated and that the students and staff are receiving the benefits of the new standards.
As a board member, he said he would continue to serve on the Legislative Committee at the state level. Which allows him to review current legislation and pending legislation to determine the impact on districts and to lend a voice to our legislature regarding necessary changes.
”I anticipate some disconnect with the new state standards and the ability of districts to adapt,” he said. “My focus will be on ensuring that process is legitimate and that the standards of measurement promote improvements to education. I will do this by reviewing the process and identifying unintended consequences and mitigating their impact.”
He said he also hopes to continue to serve on the budget committee on which he believes has been fairly successful during the past few years.
”My belief is that effective oversight of a district requires individuals with a financial background who understand how to optimize resource allocation,” he said. “Hopefully my presence will continue to provide that sense of fiscal responsibility and educational balance.”