Voters cast ballots in the township last week for three seats up on the Board of Education.
By Jen samuel, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — Voters cast ballots in the township last week for three seats up on the Board of Education.
There were four candidates running.
Hightstown did not have a seat up on school board this election cycle.
Board President Robert Laverty won 2,147 votes, or 27.22 percent.
”I appreciate the support of the East Windsor voters who have entrusted me with the oversight of their children’s education,” Mr. Laverty said Nov. 6.
Member Christine Harrington won 2,480 votes, or 31.44 percent.
”Thanks to all of those who supported me,” Ms. Harrington said Wednesday.
Tuesday newcomer Bertrand Fougnies received 1,240 votes, or 15.72 percent.
”The voters have spoken,” Mr. Fougnies said Nov. 6. “I am very disappointed but glad that Bob and Christine got re-elected.”
Newcomer Lilia Gobaira won the third seat with 1,958 votes, or 24.83 percent.
”(The) results shows how blessed we are (living) in (the) USA; where the citizen (has) the right to elect (members) of the Board of Education,” Ms. Gobaira said. She lost her first bid to join the school board in 2012.
On Nov. 5 there were sixty-two write-ins for personal choice candidates in the East Windsor school board race, in which 7,887 total votes were cast, according to the unofficial election results from Mercer County.
Ms. Harrington, who was elected to her first term in 2010, said, “I was very happy that I was re-elected and flattered that I had the highest number of votes.”
With four candidates running to fill three three-year seats, Mr. Fougnies lost to Ms. Gobaira, who did not participate in the Candidate Forum hosted by the local League of Women Voters on Oct. 17.
Of Mr. Fougnies’ defeat, Mr. Laverty said, “I was surprised and disappointed because (Ms.) Gobaira didn’t run a campaign, left us waiting for her to show up at the League of Woman Voters’ candidates forum, and hasn’t made a single statement regarding her intent to work on the board.
The board president continued, “I can’t congratulate her success when she had so little regard for the voters of the district. Bertrand made a considerable effort to learn the district’s issues and reach out to voters.”
”You never know how elections will turn out,” Ms. Harrington said. “Bertrand was visibly campaigning and did an excellent job at the school candidate forum.”
She continued, “I have not yet met Lilia and was not aware of any campaigning from her. I give them both credit for running a second time – it speaks to their dedication to the district.”
Ms. Harrington said her top long-term goals are to support student learning with the new Common Core and preparing students for college and careers; increasing the success of high school graduates at college; and maximizing learning experiences for at-risk populations.
Her short-terms goals include increasing additional learning time for students, especially for at-risk students; reviewing the school climate survey; and increasing the number of college credit opportunities for students in high school through dual enrollment programs.
Mr. Laverty was first elected to the board April 2001.
”My greatest concern is that we maintain a culture of educational achievement measured by how well our graduates are prepared for careers and college,” Mr. Laverty said. “I want to be sure that we are continuing to integrate arts and music with science and technology and that our students are learning how to understand their world and be critical thinkers.”
Additionally, he said he is looking to maintain East Windsor’s relationships with other school boards around the state in opposing the diversion of public money into private schools through charters and vouchers.
As for short-term goals, the board president said, “I’d like to report at this time next year that our teacher evaluation model has been understood and accepted as a tool for improving teaching and improving student achievement.” Mr. Laverty added, “I also want to be sure that we continue to make the most of the funding that we receive and direct it to benefit students.”
In addition to thanking district voters, Mr. Laverty thanked his wife for her sympathy and encouragement through the trials of working on the board.
”I also want to thank (outgoing board member) Bonnie Fayer for her 12 years of work on the board and express my appreciation for the support we provided each other when we upset the entrenched incumbents back in 2001. It’s been a tough but very successful effort in turning this district around through these past years,” Mr. Laverty stated.
The new terms will begin in January.
”The current board is highly committed to student achievement and safety,” Ms. Harrington said. “We work closely with our incredibly effective administrative leaders to establish the goals and action plans need to actualize the goals. I fully expect that Lilia will be supportive of our established goals.”
Ms. Gobaira said her long-term goals include: making students lifelong learners; integrating technology in curriculum; utilizing district buildings to the maximum; and examining every position in the district relative to its need.
In the short-term, she said she would become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the school district; make sure the students are being given the opportunity to excel in a safe environment.
She said there is now a diverse board after the election. “Each (member) will bring (his or her) experience and knowledge to the district making an impact on (student) performance and (the) quality of education. Our primary concern is the student’s education.”
”Everyone on our team knew that having my name last on the ballot would be a clear disadvantage,” Mr. Fougnies said.
”Voters generally do not know the board candidates and many do not follow the issues so they press the first buttons because they know we need a board to oversee our schools and they want to vote,” he said.He added, “I was hoping my campaign with Bob would raise awareness for my name and ideas. It did not reverse the trend.”
”While we lost an opportunity to have an energetic and talented school parent take over for Bonnie Fayer’s seat, I think the majority of the board will continue to drive the district forward and improve the learning environment,” Mr. Laverty told The Herald, referring to Mr. Fougnies, who was his running mate.
Mr. Fougnies said, “I am also clearly disappointed to lose to Lilia Gobaira who just filled out an application requiring 10 signatures, and did not show up at the candidate forum, express any ideas in the media, nor did she show up for the election results.”
He continued, “I hope she shows up for the board meetings where I look forward to hearing her insights. My recommendation would to be to increase the number of signatures to at least 50 so that we are guaranteed that each candidate demonstrates some motivation.”
In terms of what he has accomplished while running, Mr. Fougnies said, “I have met a lot of people, and I have learned a lot. I spoke with most of the board members, got to know them well and appreciate the issues even more. They are a very diverse team but who share certain qualities: they are smart, knowledgeable, very hands-on and very dedicated to their mission. I have expressed my satisfaction about the current administration and faculty. They all deserve public recognition and attention for their good work with our children.”
Mr. Fougnies added, “Having a large Hispanic community in a good school system is a great asset in a global world. If we leverage this strength, all children will benefit like my son who now speaks three languages quite fluently.”
There are 5,378 students currently enrolled in East Windsor Regional School District, said Edward J. Forsthoffer III, superintendent of schools.
The district has 468 teachers, he said. The average annual salary for a teacher is $73,302.
Superintendent Forsthoffer said the district employs 266 support staff members and 29 administrator.
The population of the Hightstown High School is 1,473 students for the 2013-14 academic year, he said. There are 1,159 students enrolled at Melvin H. Kreps Middle School.
Noting that there has been a high school in the community for 100 years, the superintendent said the current building in Hightstown was constructed in 1966.
”The Hightstown-East Windsor Township Schools were regionalized in 1968,” Superintendent Forsthoffer said, adding at that point it became the East Windsor Regional School District.
Mr. Fougnies said, “As an executive, I enjoyed spending an hour with Ed Forsthoffer who seems to be very competent and on top of the key issues.”
The Herald asked Mr. Fougnies if he would run again. “Let me sleep on it for a while,” he said. “My friends on the board are encouraging me to. My disappointment is telling me ‘no,’ but my resilience has always told me not to give up on something I really care about.”
Mr. Fougnies stated, “I want to thank the 1,090 voters who had confidence in my abilities. I moved here from France, got my citizenship and now 1,090 fellow citizens would have trusted me to be a board member and watch over our children’s future. I am very appreciative and touched. I just need to make 700 more friends.”
He thanked all the school board, especially Mr. Laverty, outgoing member Ms. Fayer, and members Ken Paul , Alice Weisman, and Paul Connolly. He said Ms. Harrington reached out to him Nov. 6 and encouraged him to run again.
”I really do hope that Bertrand will consider running again in the future,” Ms. Harrington told The Herald. “At the candidate forum, he clearly showed us that he has a lot to contribute.”
”Last and definitely not least, thank you to my kids and their friends, my wife, Karen; and Michele Paul who used social media to get my name out,” Mr. Fougnies said. “The board is about our children’s future, I encourage people to engage constructively.”