By KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — Five candidates are vying for the three, three-year available seats on the Board of Education in the upcoming election.
Incumbents Jonathan Lifton and John A. Mindler Jr. face three newcomers in the race: Eric Suss, William Rezes and Alicia Sneddon Killean.
Board of Education (BOE) member Michael Stern is not seeking another term.
Jonathan Lifton, who is seeking his third term on the board, is a 17-year resident of the borough. He and his wife, Paula, have four children, whose ages range from 9-17.
Lifton earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and is the owner of L.B. Electric Supply Co. Inc., Brooklyn, New York.
He said in addition to the school board, he has been a Little League coach for 11 years. He noted that his company has been a longtime sponsor of the team.
Lifton said it has been an honor to have served his neighbors and friends as a member of the BOE for six years and Board President for four years.
“We have gone through many challenges as a district over that time, including the retirement of our former superintendent, unforeseen state-aid cuts and superstorm Sandy,” he said. “But the board has never compromised its longstanding commitment to teaching the ‘whole child,’ to protect our music and art departments and to continue to improve our performance for the children of the borough.”
Lifton said the district continues to have challenges, including increasing enrollments and tight budgets; however, he hopes to be part of a board that continues to fulfill the board’s commitments for the students of Metuchen.
With the current teachers’ contract expiring at the end of the school year, Lifton said his experience on the board is an important asset to have.
He said he has been president of the board and chair of the board’s Negotiating Committee for the last two teacher contract negotiations, and in his professional career he has been involved in negotiating eight collective bargaining agreements.
Alicia Sneddon Killean, who is seeking her first term, is a 35-year resident of the borough.
“I was born and raised in Metuchen,” she said. “I moved away for a bit after college, but once I was married, my husband and I moved back to town to raise our family. We have been here ever since.”
Killean and her husband, Tom, have three young children.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Dayton and a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from Rutgers University.
Killean is currently a K-12 supervisor for math and science in Holmdel. She previously taught middle school math and science for 14 years.
“I am a class mom for my daughter’s class and was the team parent for soccer and Little League teams,” she said. “I am a member of the Metuchen PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), a co-leader for our Daisy Troop and serve as a member of the Recreation Commission for Metuchen.”
Killean said she believes in giving back to the town that has given her so much.
“I grew up in a family that was strongly rooted in Metuchen and very active in the school system,” she said. “As my own children are now entering school, I want to be involved in ensuring that all students are afforded the best education possible.
“[I] feel that my experience as a math and science supervisor, coupled with my lifelong connections in Metuchen, give me the unique ability to inform board decisions which are consistent with recommended best practices and which uphold community values,” she said.
Killean said if elected, her main interest is in what she feels is the biggest challenge currently facing the board: maintaining quality schools and programs as the town grows and changes.
“This is an extremely broad topic, which will involve discussing building capacity and improvements, school structure, course offerings, technical infrastructure and community outreach,” she said. “Compounding the challenges of growth are the educational mandates being imposed by the state. To this end, I believe that my professional experience, commitment to the town and dedication to our children will be extremely beneficial. I am excited about the possibility of being involved during this crucial time.”
John Mindler, who has served on the board since the end of February filling a vacant term, is seeking his first elected term on the board.
He is a 43-year resident of the borough, and he and his wife, Jackie, have a daughter, who is a fourth-grade student at Campbell Elementary School.
Mindler earned a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from the University of Maryland and is a senior program manager at TD Ameritrade.
Along with serving on the BOE, he said he is a Fuccile Foundation board member; active in Metuchen baseball and softball as a commissioner and manager; a member of the Metuchen Daddy-Daughter Events Planning Committee; a Habitat for Humanity volunteer; and a coach for CYO Basketball. He previously coached for Metuchen Recreation Basketball.
“I’ve lived in this community for my entire life, and [I] am a product of the Metuchen school system,” he said. “As in other areas of my life, I feel it is important to give back and contribute time and effort to ensure the best outcomes for our children and community.”
Mindler said he feels on the board he can act as a voice of his fellow parents by hearing their needs and trying to work with fellow board members on meeting those needs where feasible.
“I feel I can use my education, community involvement and professional experience to benefit our school district,” he said.
Mindler said if elected, his area of focus on the board would be planning for the future.
“We need to bring our district in line with what other districts provide,” he said. “We have to prepare for the increases in student population that we are projecting, and in my opinion we should be working towards implementation of full-day kindergarten.”
Mindler said they have to do what is necessary to provide their children access to technology in all areas of study.
“I also believe going forward, we have to provide the tools, training and support for our educators to serve all students of all needs in a financially responsible manner,” he said.
William (Bill) Rezes, who is seeking his first term on the board, has lived in the borough for six years.
He and his wife, Cecilia, have three young daughters.
Rezes earned his Master of Arts degree in educational administration from Kean University, and he is a middle school principal in Old Bridge Township.
“I have served as manager, assistant coach and commissioner for the Metuchen Little League,” he said. “I have also served as an assistant coach for the Metuchen Town Soccer Club.”
Rezes is currently a member of Metuchen Daddy-Daughter Events Planning Committee, which plans events for fathers and their daughters and has also raised money for the Fuccile Foundation.
“I have a strong belief in public service and love the Metuchen community and the education it provides my children,” he said. “I have worked in public education for nearly 15 years as an educator and currently as an administrator. I have been a member of multiple educational committees that have studied topics from instructional practices to the social-emotional well-being of students as well as many other topics.”
Rezes said he would bring a great deal of knowledge and commitment to the Metuchen BOE.
“I strongly feel that my skills will further the educational experience we provide to the students of Metuchen schools,” he said.
Rezes said the growth of Metuchen is well on its way, and he said he is excited about the positive effects it will have on the community.
“With this growth, a greater number of students will enter our schools, and we need to be prepared,” he said. “If elected to the BOE, I will work to see that the Metuchen school system adopts a comprehensive strategic plan that engages all community members. While the impact of growth on schools can be challenging, proper community collaboration and planning by the BOE will ensure that Metuchen is ready to successfully serve its students.”
Eric Suss, who is seeking his first term on the board, is a 25-year resident of the borough.
He and his wife, Janet, have two daughters — one is a 2016 graduate of Metuchen High School and currently a freshman at Yale University, and their other daughter is a sophomore at Metuchen High.
Suss earned a Master of Science degree in computer science from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Cornell University.
He is a former Metuchen Little League coach and supporter of the Parent Teacher Organizations, Metuchen Education Foundation, Metuchen Citizens of Quality Education, Booster Club and band parents.
“I have actively followed the BOE for a long time and participated in school-related forums as far back as the superintendent and high school principal searches,” he said. “I also now have experienced the schools from first grade through high school. The schools have been great to my family, and I would like to give back to them.”
In particular, Suss said the district will need to react to the impact from the downtown construction and an “increasingly technology-dependent society.”
“I believe that my parent’s perspective and my management and technology experience will allow me to help the district adapt to these and other challenges,” he said.
Suss said, if elected, he will work on the need to try to ensure that the schools can accommodate full-day kindergarten as well as any impact resulting from the downtown construction.
“I would also like to improve our students’ Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) experience at all student levels and grades,” he said. “Our society is becoming increasingly dependent on technology, and the future success of our children will depend on the STEM foundation they build in grades K-12.”
The Metuchen Parent Teacher Council is hosting a “Meet the Candidates Night” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Metuchen High School cafeteria. Polls open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 8.