WOODBRIDGE — Six candidates are vying for the three, three-year terms available on the Board of Education in the upcoming election.
Incumbents Marie Anderson, Frank Della Pietro III and Brian Molnar will face newcomers Rabia Ahmad, Mubashir Ahmad and Thomas E. Maras.
Marie Anderson, 45, who is a 30-year resident of the township, is seeking her second term on the board. She is married with two teen aged children.
Anderson is a graduate of JFK Memorial High School in the Iselin section of the township. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and earned her master’s degree in health care administration from Seton Hall University. She is a human resources director.
“As an active member of community, I would like to continue my community service by serving on the Board of Education,” she said. “I care deeply about the future of our students, so I want to ensure all students received a good education. My experience coupled with my drive and enthusiasm will allow me to continue to make a significant contribution to the Board of Education.”
If reelected, Anderson said she would like to continue to work expanding the district’s technology capacity to prepare the students for the modern business world.
Frank Della Pietro III, 54, who is a lifelong resident of the township, is seeking his third term on the board. He is married with three daughters and one grandson.
Della Pietro III is a graduate of the Middlesex County Vocational School in Perth Amboy. He is a firefighter, an emergency medical technician and fire prevention official.
In the community, Della Pietro is employed as a firefighter in the Fords section of the township promoting fire prevention for more than 25 years. He also has taught at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville for 18 years.
Della Pietro said he is seeking another term on the board to ensure the Woodbridge Township School District is run well and the teachers have the tools they need to succeed.
If reelected, Della Pietro said making sure the district’s school children are safety at school is a major priority to continue to focus on.
As chairman of the board’s Safety and Security Committee, Della Pietro said the board has developed numerous security measures for all of the schools.
“Our middle schools participate in the New Jersey Fire Bowl, which they compete with other middle schools throughout the state on fire safety,” he said. “Our outgoing seniors attend “The After the Fire” program on college dormitory fire safety given by two students who were critically burned in the Seton Hall fire [in 2000].”
Brian Molnar, 52, who is a lifelong resident of the Port Reading section of the township, is seeking his fifth term. He is married with three children, ages 15 to 26.
Molnar is a graduate of Woodbridge High School and earned an associate’s degree from Middlesex County College in management science. He is a member of the New Jersey Collegiate Business Administration Association.
He is employed as deputy director of Recreation and Resident Services for the Township of Woodbridge.
Molnar has served on the board since 2005. In that time, he has served in the role as president three times and one time as vice president.
In the community, Molnar has been involved in many youth sports organizations over the years including Woodbridge Township Youth Soccer, Woodbridge Little League, Woodbridge Basketball, Police Benevolent Association Street Hockey League and Golden Saints football/cheer.
He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Woodbridge and he is a past member of Teamsters Local 469.
“I am running [for another term on the board] to build upon our accomplishments of the past years,” Molnar said. “While serving on the Board, I initiated Town Hall style public meetings and opened the budget process to the public. I also formed the first budget focus group with the help of my fellow Board members. The Board has also advanced school safety, the instant alert system, middle school sports and local history curriculum. In 2014, while president, I formed the new Special Education Committee and started the new Junior Youth in Government Day program.”
Molnar said the district has a new Ross Street School No. 11 and a new addition to the Woodbridge Middle School being built.
“We will also be rolling out the new full day Kindergarten program and the opening of the new Oak Tree Road School No. 29,” he said. “I also want to work with our Guidance Departments to make sure our students are receiving all the information and opportunities open to them as they make college choices and career choices. We have switched the philosophy in the district to college and career readiness and we must have our students in a position to receive all the scholarship opportunities open to them. I also would like to see us partner up with Princeton Review and give parents a choice to send their child to take the course at a discounted price.”
Candidates Rabia Ahmad, Mubashir Ahmad and Thomas E. Maras did not return election questionnaires before deadline. Polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 7.