##M:[more]##Though the West Windsor-Plainsboro school board race has been a quiet one so far, this is actually a very significant election in several ways.
Robert Loretan, our current superintendent, has announced that he will be leaving this summer. The new board will have the task of appointing a new superintendent and assisting with the leadership transition. The district has begun implementation of the referendum building projects. Informed oversight will be critical to stay on time and on budget to build the facilities the voters expected in passing the referendum. As a result, experience and proven leadership are key in this election.
The two incumbents running for the West Windsor seats, Hemant Marathe and Robert Johnson, have the experience and leadership to help guide the district through these challenges while still handling the normal district issues relating to administration, facilities, curriculum and finance.
Hemant Marathe has been on the board for six years, serving as board president for the past three. He has served on both the curriculum and finance committees. As a fellow board member for three years, I can attest to the insight, understanding, and mediation skills he brings to the table. As the second most senior member of the group, and having worked closely with our current superintendent as president, I believe his experience would be extremely helpful to a new superintendent.
Robert Johnson, the current board vice-president, is running for his second term. He was part of the administration and facilities committee that carefully reviewed the district buildings and assembled the referendum plan that was passed last year. He is now part of the finance committee, a group that has consistently lowered our per pupil cost relative to similar surrounding districts and has helped to bring the current question to change the township tax allocation to a per pupil basis to the voters. His understanding of both facilities and finance will be a tremendous asset as we implement the referendum building plan over the next three years.
After years of seeing the school tax burden swing from township to township for years, sometimes with a perception of unfairness in the real estate equalization process, voters also have to opportunity to vote on changing the tax allocation system to a simple per pupil basis. As the economy of each of our townships is similar, this seems to be a fair and more stable approach to sharing the costs of our schools.
School board members volunteer for this job, which takes considerable time and thought. I thank all of those who are running.
This year in particular, I believe we need the experience and skill sets our incumbents, Hemant Marathe and Robert Johnson, bring to the position. Please join me in voting for them, as well as “yes” for the budget and “yes” on the tax allocation question, on Tuesday, April 17.
Diane Hasling
12 Jacob Drive, West Windsor
