School board candidates talked education during a public forum held in October.
By Jen Samuel, Special Writer
HIGHTSTOWN — School board candidates talked education during a public forum held in October.
It took place Oct. 17 in Hightstown High School’s media room. The League of Women Voters of East Windsor-Hightstown sponsored the event, which preceded the East Windsor Township Council forum.
There are three township seats up on the East Windsor Board of Education this election season.
Hightstown does not have a board seat up this year, said Edward J. Forsthoffer III, superintendent at East Windsor Regional School District.
The incumbents include member Christine Harrington and board president Robert Laverty.
The newcomers are Bertrand Fougnies and Lilia Gobaira. This is Mr. Fougnies’ second time running for a board seat.
Karen Siracusa, a member of the League of Women Voters of Lawrence, moderated the school board forum. Audience members submitted questions, which touched on a variety of issues from school taxes to standardized testing.
Ms. Gobaira did not attend the forum.
A township resident of 27 years, Mr. Laverty, 57, lives in the area of Lee Turkey Farm and the Melvin H. Kreps Middle School.
He has served on the board since April 2001.
”I especially want to thank the voters of East Windsor for allowing me to serve you for more than 12 years,” Mr. Laverty said.
He said the role of a board member is complex: to set goals and policy for the district; to establish priorities and align the budget with those priorities; to manage the performance of the superintendent; and to ensure the proper use of the district’s financial and capital assets.”
Mr. Laverty said voters trust the board members to negotiate contracts effectively with school principals, teachers and support staff, and to manage legal issues as they arise.
”One candidate here tonight cannot fulfill that role entirely,” Mr. Laverty said.
Ms. Harrington, 43, moved to East Windsor in 2002. A resident of the Centex neighborhood, she was elected to her first term on the school board in April 2010.
Married, she is the mother of two boys, a seventh grader and freshman.
Ms. Harrington is a professor of psychology and student success at Middlesex County College.
”I have also been serving as the director of our Faculty Development Center,” Ms. Harrington stated. “I regularly present on teaching and learning at local and national conferences as well as at many colleges and universities.”
Additionally Ms. Harrington is a licensed psychologist and prior to teaching full time, worked in the Counseling Department at Middlesex County College as a counselor and disability service provider for seven years.
Ms. Harrington said she has been “one of the most vocal board members” including for better communication with the public and making sure the best programs are offered to children with special needs, such as reading disabilities.
She said, “Freedom of Speech is one of our rights.” However, she added, the primary focus of a school is learning and if something is disruptive or hurtful to others it is important to then step in as a district.
Ms. Harrington said privacy is also important, which also entails legal and safety issues at schools.
Mr. Laverty said there is no privacy on school grounds except what’s in book packs or pockets.
As for freedom of expression, Mr. Laverty said, “Principals have to make some tough decisions.” He stated that the board empowers the principals to do so within the district’s legal guidelines.
Mr. Fougnies is 46 and lives on Wendover Road off Conover Road. He has been a township resident since 2000.
”My wife, Karen, and I have been married for 22 years and we have three children who are almost 16, 13, and 3,” Mr. Fougnies said.
He said today everyone talks about the “new normal” where: it is hard to get a job and keep it; and it is harder to get into college and even harder to pay for tuition.
”Our school district is no exception to the new normal,” Mr. Fougnies stated. “We have a budget in 2013-14 that is finally back to the level of 2007. Yet, for the last 10 years, I have seen a dedicated school board, administration and faculty doing their best with what they were given. I want to build on the success.”
Mr. Fougnies is a vice president of data solutions for a consulting firm, leading him in a career managing budgets and making strategic decisions for more than 20 years.
”I want to make sure that all the children of our district receive an equal opportunity for the best possible education given our resources by leveraging every dollar we have in our budget,” he said.
”The Board of Education in any town in New Jersey is an important body of volunteers,” Mr. Fougnies said in his closing statement.
He spoke of education trends including schools, especially elementary schools, with more students studying English as a Second Language (ESL) significantly score lower than other schools.
While this is true of East Windsor regional schools, he said, the district has already taken some good measures to combat low test scores including regrouping elementary classes by level in one school.
”But, the community can also help,” he said. “We should use social media to organize local exchange student programs.”
Of additional trends Mr. Fougnies said districts with more teachers with advanced degrees have more students with higher scores in advanced math and language arts.
Another trend is that schools that spend the most per pupil are not necessarily achieving the best test score, he said.
”It is not all about money but it’s about smart spending,” Mr. Fougnies stated.
”Much has changed in 12 years,” Mr. Laverty said of his tenure on the school board. “Technology, education theory, and the political scene have changed dramatically.”
He said public education has come under increasing attack from political and private interests that want to see expansions of vouchers and charter schools, outsourcing of basic educational functions as well as services. Another change was seeing the use of standardized testing as a threat, as much as incentive, over schools.
The board president said many positive developments have included making large investments in classroom technology with white boards, document projectors, teacher websites, and music production systems.
”I have played the role you elected me to fulfill, including multiple negotiations committees with the principals, faculty, and staff,” Mr. Laverty added.
Media director Andrew Koontz and his TV production class filmed the forum. It will air on Comcast Channel 27 and Verizon Channel 38 at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 2, Nov. 3, and Nov 5.
”Bertrand and I, and Christine Harrington, are able to fulfill all of these responsibilities as a board members,” Mr. Laverty stated. “We look forward to serving the communities of East Windsor, Hightstown and Roosevelt for the next three years.”