Voters to go to polls April 16
By:David Koch
The Register-News recently sent out questionnaires to those running for seats on their local boards of education.
The purpose of the questionnaires was to give candidates a forum for their platforms and to provide voters with information.
The following are profiles from the Mansfield Township School District. Profiles from other school districts in the area will be published next week.
MANSFIELD
There are four candidates vying for three available seats on the Mansfield Board of Education.
Incumbents Margaret Traino, Robert Arenge and Scott Preidel and new candidate Jessica Saltstein will run for the three-year terms.
Robert Arenge
Mr. Arenge, 51, has lived in the school district for 17 years with his wife, Judy, 47, and their children Andrew, 14, and Gabrielle, 9.
Mr. Arenge graduated from Garfield High School and the University of Maryland. He has a master’s degree in education from Glassboro State College and a doctorate in educational administration from Temple University.
He has been employed as the curriculum supervisor at the Pemberton Township School District for 26 years.
He also was president of the Pemberton Township School Administrators and a coach for Mansfield Township’s recreation program.
Mr. Arenge is an incumbent and was first elected to the school board in 1999.
He is a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the Pemberton Township Administrators, and the New Jersey School Boards Association.
His hobbies include coaching, golf and reading.
Mr. Arenge said he considers the following three issues as the most important for the school district:
Student population growth. Mr. Arenge said the large increases in student population are a major issue.
"The Board of Education continues to try to maintain a reasonable class size given the stress of more students," said Mr. Arenge. "Many of our programs are up for a second tax question since the state will not allow us to keep them in the required budget. I have always been committed to providing quality education to all and will continue to do so."
Local school taxes. "The heavy burden of the large number of students has placed a great strain on the local tax levy," said Mr. Arenge. "Many factors out of the control of the Board of Education have created this problem. The Board of Education has had no other recourse than to ask the citizens to carry the load through local taxes."
The new upper elementary school. Mr. Arenge also said getting the new upper elementary school started was a major priority
"The new intermediate school should start construction soon," he said. "I have made a commitment to get this project completed as efficiently and expeditiously as possible. The Board of Education, along with the school administration, continues to work tirelessly to get the project under way. I will concentrate on getting the school finished and ready for our children in order to reduce the stress we now live under daily."
Scott Preidel
Mr. Preidel, 38, has lived in the school district all his life. He and his wife, Paula, 38, have three sons: Aaron, 14, Ryan, 11, and Paul, 8.
He is a foreman pipe fitter, a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local No. 9. He graduated from Northern Burlington Regional High School in 1982 and went to trade school.
He is an incumbent and has served three years on the school board. He also has served three years on the Mansfield Township Recreation Committee, two years on the Mansfield Township Planning Board, and is a member of the Hedding United Methodist Church.
He lists the following three issues as the most important facing the school district:
Taxes. "We need to aggressively seek new and unique avenues to fund our schools in order to help stabilize taxes during our tremendous growth," said Mr. Preidel. "Fiscal accountability must be a top priority. We must continue to work as a board and as a community with our state and local governments to find alternatives, so we can stabilize taxes while still offering our children a quality education."
Growth. "This is a major issue because it impacts both taxes and education," said Mr. Preidel. "With our growing numbers and a decrease in state funding, the burden is falling on the individual taxpayer. As I stated before, we must aggressively seek new solutions for funding and all avenues must be explored.
"Our township has always enjoyed one of the best elementary schools in the state. Our children have been receiving a top-rate education and we have been able to offer that education while maintaining one of the lowest costs per pupil. We need to continue to offer the same excellent education our students have always received. This will be our toughest challenge as our budget is tightened due to decreased funding. The decrease in funding necessitates us to look for nonconventional money sources available such as grants and matching funds. Our school also has a tremendous resource in its volunteer program. We need to promote this program and get both our parents and our talented community members involved in our schools."
New Student Facility. "My background is heavily rooted in new school and existing school construction," said Mr. Preidel. "I have worked on and managed many school constructions projects (Fountainwood, Burlington, Springfield Township Elementary and Northern Burlington Regional) in the past several years. We need to continue using our combined individual experiences and specialties as board members. Through these cooperative efforts, we can effectively facilitate the construction process to ensure our district can meet its projected new school opening date of September 2003."
Jessica Saltstein
Mrs. Saltstein, 32, has lived in Mansfield for one year with her husband, Keith, 32, and their 3-year-old son, Alexander.
She has worked as a basic skills teacher in the Bordentown Regional School District for two years.
She graduated from Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, Pa., and has a bachelor of arts in both special and regular education from Wheelock College in Boston, Mass.
She also has a master’s degree as a learning disabilities teacher consultant from Trenton State University.
She is an honorary member of Kappa Delta Pi.
Her hobby is scrapbook keeping.
She listed the following three issues as the most important in the school district:
Educating all children. "I believe that all children deserve a good education no matter who they are," said Mrs. Saltstein. "I think the school board needs to support our children no matter what and see that they have the best education possible."
Equal treatment. "I believe that everyone should be treated equally regardless of where they live or where they are from," said Mrs. Saltstein. "Our children are our future."
Fiscal responsibility. "I believe that (school tax) money needs be watched closely and it should go to our schools and our children to provide the best possible education," she said.
Margaret Traino
Mrs. Traino, 40, has lived in the school district for 15 years with her husband, Robert, 40, and their children: Benjamin, 14, Zachary, 13, and Maggie, 9.
She is a former elementary school teacher and is a homemaker.
Mrs. Traino has been on the school board for three years and is the current vice president.
She is a graduate of Hamilton High School West and Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) with a bachelor of arts in elementary education.
She also has received additional certifications in reading and speech correction.
She lists her honors and achievements as a Girl Scout leader for four years, a former board member of the Columbus Home and School Association and the mother of three children.
She is still a member of the Columbus Home and School Association, Partners in Education, and the volunteer program at John Hydock Elementary School.
Mrs. Traino said she considers the following issues to be the three most important:
Overcrowding at John Hydock Elementary School. Mrs. Traino said the school district has been struggling with overcrowding and the issues associated with overcrowding for the past two school years.
"The upcoming school year, 2002-2003, will prove to be our greatest challenge," said Mrs. Traino. "Mansfield Township has always made education a priority. I am committed to smaller class sizes. I believe in maintaining the integrity of our educational programs, the programs Mansfield Township has always been proud to provide. Our Board of Education and the staff at John Hydock Elementary School are committed to our students. I know we will see everyone come together in the upcoming year and we will overcome our challenge. Our new school continues to be a major priority and will be the final answer to our overcrowded school."
Community participation in the local school district. "Community involvement continues to be an important part of the Mansfield Board of Education," said Mrs. Traino. "As a member of the Community Relations Committee, I will continue to link the community with the Board of Education through our monthly newsletters. The Mansfield Board of Education also has involved residents through the Community Task Force. I have taken an active role in the task force and will continue to participate fully. The school board is currently working on a strategic planning day that will involve the community in long-term goal setting for the Board of Education. I will be a part of the strategic planning process and look forward to working more closely with the community in this capacity."
State aid. "We are faced with severe budget issues imposed primarily by the state of New Jersey," she said. "As a member of the Legislative Committee for the Board of Education, I will continue to contact our government officials and voice the needs and concerns of Mansfield Township whenever and wherever possible."