Editor’s note: The five candidates were given eight questions to consider. The responses below are presented in alphabetical order by the township and the candidates’ last name.
1.) What experience, expertise, or perspective would you bring to the board? Which trait would be most useful?
Plainsboro Candidates
#b#Fleres#/b#: My six years as a board member, including this past year as Finance Committee Chairman, have given me a thorough understanding of the challenges facing our schools. My professional background in engineering and business management, including organizations with large unionized and professional work forces has provided me with insight that is directly relevant to WW-P.
The most important trait board members need is the ability to work with each other, consider opposing opinions, and, if necessary, dissent with respect. I believe I have a good working relationship with my peers on the board and with district staff.
#b#Walsh#/b#: My business background has given me a great deal of experience in assessing issues, analyzing the situation, identifying potential resolutions, and solving problems. I am also tenacious and persevering so that I don’t give up until I get an answer. I have attended board meetings for many years so I am familiar with the history and understand many of the issues.
#b#Xu#/b#: I try bringing a sense of harmony and balance to all of my work, including the manner in which I communicate with others while working on difficult problems. As a historian of mathematics and professor, college committees yield strong opinions, but we show respect, and calmly discuss how we can resolve issues while sharing a common purpose. I came to America with the goal of becoming a scholar and a college professor and I feel we should encourage our students to set goals for themselves and help facilitate the means for them to achieve their dreams and goals. I have had an opportunity to witness two different education systems. I can help the district get better by choosing best of both.
West Windsor Candidates
#b#Abitanto#/b#: My firm manages the employee benefits programs for over 285 NJ Boards of Education. This is the second biggest line item in the budget and one of the most complex. I work closely with administrators and board members in the collective bargaining process. I am focused on identifying cost savings opportunities, while maintaining the integrity of the benefits program. That process involves exploring and providing solutions, negotiating a fair and equitable deal while working collectively with administration and the teachers’ union.
I have spent many hours with business administrators, superintendents, and board members throughout the state discussing their challenges, and I would have access to these contacts for input on challenges we face. Additionally, my role requires me to focus on continual improvement of our firm’s internal operations so we perform more efficiently and deliver better results for our customers. In my industry, we deal with conflict on a daily basis and uncovering the root cause, investigating solutions, and implementing a plan to resolve issues are skills that will help me if I am elected.
#b#Kaish#/b#: For the last 15 years I have been a committed WW-P volunteer. In addition to countless hours helping, organizing, and fundraising for classrooms, clubs and teams, I have held every possible PTA board position. I believe that my hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of how our schools operate on a day-to-day basis give me a unique perspective on school issues.
As an active, district volunteer and PTA leader:
— I have experience making budgetary and fiscal decisions during difficult economic times. My past decisions maximized our resources and benefited the largest number of students. I will continue to be guided by these principles on the board.
— I created the process of sending weekly E-mails to parents at Village School. I am the current writer of the CMS PTSA Weekly News Update. As a board member, I will continue to look for ways to use technology to communicate with the community.
— I oversaw the implementation of the “Just Write a Check” programs at DNS and CMS, a response to parental dissatisfaction with traditional fundraising. I will bring these same listening skills and ability to implement constructive change to the board.
— I will bring to the board a successful history of leadership working collaboratively with parents, teachers, and administrators.
2. Explain your view of the district’s financial management, including annual increases in the budget and budget surplus amounts.
#b#Fleres#/b#: A number of years ago, the board established a goal of limiting budget increases to less than the rate of inflation plus enrollment growth. Recognizing the economic conditions, over the past three years the board has further limited budget increases. As a result, our annual per-pupil costs compare favorably with other NJ school districts.
The fact that WW-P doesn’t spend all of its budgeted money each year is something that should be applauded. The surplus generated is either reserved for future expenses or returned to taxpayers in the form of tax relief.
It is not correct to characterize reserve funds as money “not returned to the taxpayers” as some people have. It is recognition that future money must be spent to protect taxpayers’ investment in their schools. For example, of the $6 million in capital reserves as of June 2011, over $4 million is being used this year to maintain the district’s buildings, with the bulk of that amount going to roof and boiler repairs.
Since the revenue side of the annual school budget is fixed in April for the following year, we have conservatively budgeted our expenses so that unexpected costs can be handled without interrupting our planned educational programs. In recent years the surplus has run between approximately 2 percent and 5 percent of the annual budget with the unspent money used to reduce future tax levies. How conservatively to budget is a judgment call; it depends, for example, on how willing you are to cancel student programs mid-year because of an unusually harsh winter, a spike in oil prices, or other unexpected costs. I favor protecting the quality of our students’ education.
#b#Walsh#/b#: I have been a frequent critic of the district’s budget process. The district has an entitlement attitude and feels that they should increase the budget by the maximum each year. I feel that they have built extensive contingencies into the budget and then used those inflated amounts to justify even higher levels of tax, year after year. For example, the 2010-’11 actual spending was $146 million. The proposed budget for 2012-’13 is $161 million. This represents a 10 percent or $15 million increase. In these tight economic times, there must be more concern for the taxpayer.
I also believe that the district has built excessive surplus in the general fund and the community education fund. The district has dragged its feet in returning these monies to the taxpayers. Rather than hoarding the surplus, it should be returned to the taxpayers as quickly as possible.
#b#Xu#/b#: I have served on two different home owner association boards, one in New York and currently in Plainsboro. I therefore understand the importance of keeping expenses under control while providing necessary services. As a member of Walker Gordon Farm Home Owner Association Board of Trustees, I recognize the need for allocating funding for reserves to deal with emergencies.
The difference between the school budget and our HOA is that we can borrow money from a bank in an emergency if we over-spend our reserves, but the school district is limited to its passed budget. One should not compare a business and a school because they have different goals and rules. I remain committed to monitoring our budgets with a balanced and honest perspective that the school district remains diligent in keeping our costs down while maintaining a high quality education.
Given the tough economic environment, the school board has kept year to year increases in spending to approximately 1 percent annually over the past three years. The property tax rate in Plainsboro has risen in the last two years due to slight shift in enrollment from West Windsor to Plainsboro. In 2005-06 budget, Plainsboro’s share of property taxes was $52.64 million. The share in the proposed 2012-13 budget is $60.847 million, which represents an increase of 15.6 percent over a seven-year period, or 2.09 percent annually. The annual increase of 2.09 percent is well under the state budget cap, which for most of those years was 4 percent. As a taxpayer and parent I believe a 2 percent annual increase in taxes over a seven-year period for a high-quality education is a fair deal.
Due to the new state law the school board had an opportunity to cancel the budget vote since the budget is under cap. The school board, however, chose to put the budget up for vote. I urge residents to justify the confidence in the community shown by the school board by supporting the budget.
#b#Abitanto#/b#: Working with school board clients, I have had several discussions with business administrators regarding the challenges they are faced with in proposing a budget and managing expenses. I am impressed with WW-P when you compare our costs per pupil of $12,388 to other districts. Our costs are among the lowest.
Further, the number of pupils per administrator is among the highest at 144 to 1, which confirms that the staff has found a way to do more with less. Every year, costs go up, schools need repairs, technology upgrades, etc. It is a complex process, but the key metrics and compare to other districts are clear indicators that the district has done a great job. Maintaining the proper surplus is important in providing access to funds for unforeseen events and long term stability of the district.
#b#Kaish#/b#: In recent years the district has reduced costs by addressing economy and efficiency. Our per-pupil costs are below the state average. The budgets presented have consistently fallen below the state-imposed cap limit. The district should have an appropriately funded capital reserve account. It enables the district to apply for and receive state grants for capital projects, allowing us to stretch our dollars and accomplish much-needed improvements at a reduced cost.
3.) If cuts are required, what one subject/activity/initiative would you cut first? What would you cut last? What area or areas would you increase funding for?
#b#Fleres#/b#: One of the guidelines the board has used in reducing costs has been to avoid impacting curriculum or programs that directly affect the students. Two indicators of that are the low cost of operating our facilities and the fact that WW-P has the lowest ratio of administrators to students in both Mercer and Middlesex counties.
However, avoiding cuts to student programs is becoming harder to achieve. Recent budgets have forced slight increases in class sizes, longer bus routes, and reductions in extra-curricular programs.
I would suggest smaller reductions across a broad area rather than the wholesale elimination of one or two programs. I would also point out that deferring maintenance spending is at most a temporary, one-time gain and not a true savings since any such work will eventually have to be done, possibly at a greater cost.
#b#Walsh#/b#: Having reviewed the district budget, I have identified the accounts where the district builds its contingencies. Since there are millions of dollars of excess, I am comfortable that we can cut the tax burden without cutting programs or activities.
#b#Xu#/b#: Based on all external independent matrices, our school district operates efficiently. Therefore, choosing one single area to cut may be difficult. If a cut is required, I would first look at activities that don’t have direct impact on students, next would be areas or activities that may be undersubscribed. Based on the latest available data, our district has one of the highest student-teacher ratios in Mercer County. If additional money became available, I would suggest we reduce the class size by hiring teachers where appropriate. Lowering the student-teacher ratio will give us the maximum impact for additional dollars.
#b#Abitanto#/b#: There are no easy answers, but I would listen to all the input and work with the other board members to weigh the pros and cons of each suggestion. I would base my vote on the benefit of the education and safety of the children and balance that with the fiscal responsibility to the tax payers. Before any cuts are made, I would want to explore areas for opportunity to save money within existing programs, find solutions, and implement them.
#b#Kaish#/b#: If cuts were required, I would seek to do so with as minimal an impact on students as possible. I would review the budget to ensure that every expense is justified. I would first want to identify areas of inefficiency, and also look for programs that are underutilized and explore whether they could be consolidated. Quality education should not be compromised. I would make every effort to avoid taking actions that increase class size or cut popular programs.
4.) What is your view of the district’s Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying (HIB) policies, both from years past and with Gov. Christie’s anti-bullying bill of rights that was implemented for the 2011-’12 school year?
#b#Fleres#/b#: While incidents of HIB are serious and need to be addressed, I believe the state’s one-size-fits-all approach of mandated policies does not appropriately serve WW-P’s needs. When a minor playground incident between two six-year-olds — something that would have been handled immediately by a teacher — results in mandatory letters to their parents, an investigation by the school, and ultimately a report to the Board of Education, something is wrong. The burden on an already stretched staff becomes unbearable.
Most important, I do not believe this new law will improve the situation for WW-P students. My fear is that if every minor incident is defined as “bullying” and triggers a full-scale response, the more serious offenses, the ones that truly require our attention and action, will be lost in the numbers
#b#Walsh#/b#: I recognize that bullying is a problem in schools across the country. The new state rules are a good faith effort to deal with potential issues. However, it is a cookie cutter approach that may not fit every district. I think that WW-P has done a good job in training staff and informing students and parents of the rules and procedures. Once there is more experience, the district will need to review the program to identify the areas where there can be improvements. The initial emphasis has been on punishing the offender with little attention paid to the victim. We know that the consequences are real, especially for the repeat victims.
#b#Xu#/b#: The New Jersey legislature created a law without thinking about the way it would be implemented or the potential burden it placed on staff. Although it is extremely important to protect our children from harmful words and/or actions, the staff should always evaluate every case in totality. I am not sure whether the state forcing the schools to conduct student reviews is protective or harmful. This is the first year of the HIB was implemented and I would like to review its statistics.
#b#Abitanto#/b#: I am extremely impressed with the district’s strong position towards bullying. The message was very clear that offenders would be dealt with swiftly. I strongly support the district’s efforts to enforce these policies. While the district cannot control everything, enforcing a strict policy will deter future offenders. Our district needs to remain committed to continual education with the children and strict enforcement of policy for any offenders.
#b#Kaish#/b#: “Kids will be kids” is no longer an accepted excuse for inappropriate behavior. The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, signed into law in January 2011, details dozens of requirements for public schools that include the reporting and investigating of cases of bullying and the training of staff and school officials. While the goals of this law are laudable, implementation has proven to be costly, time-consuming and complicated.
All students should come to school feeling safe and valued. If a student feels harassed, intimidated or bullied, he/she needs to know that there are adults who will help them. The new law sends a clear message to students: disrespect and discrimination will not be tolerated. As the law evolves and additional guidelines, programs, and funding become available, I would hope that the message is received more clearly by students and the number of HIB cases in the future will dwindle.
5.) There have been more than 10 new HIB cases so far this year. Can something more be done to assist students and families who might be impacted by bullying incidents?
#b#Fleres#/b#: It is difficult to compare numbers with prior years because of the new definitions and reporting requirements, but naturally, any number above zero is too high. Unfortunately, in an organization with almost 10,000 children ranging from 5 to 18 years old, incidents will happen. When they do, it is important that each case be dealt with appropriately and on an individual basis. My problem with the state requirements is that they focus on dictating a process and not on achieving results.
What the schools need is a set of policies that ensure such incidents are quickly and appropriately resolved. This would be better achieved by allowing school districts to tailor their own set of policies to fit their particular situations.
#b#Walsh#/b#: This experience shows that there are issues and the district is taking them seriously. I hope that the staff will learn from these instances and identify improvements to the process. So far the attention has been focused on the reporting. We still need to get more understanding of the causes of the bullying. The district needs to do more to explain the effects of any abusive behavior, so that everyone is aware of the real hurt that they have caused.
#b#Xu#/b#: Since I do not know the details of any of these cases, it is difficult for me to comment on the significance of the number. The schools, however, should educate parents regarding the guidelines, evaluations, and what remediation is applied according to age group.
#b#Abitanto#/b#: While a policy cannot control all behavior, it can act as a deterrent. As the ramifications of such actions are addressed, and the children see the disciplinary action put in place, future occurrences should be reduced. With the new policy, you could initially anticipate more HIB cases due to the rules being strictly enforced, but that should show a decrease over time.
#b#Kaish#/b#: Parents, teachers, and administrators must understand the importance of modeling the behaviors that are expected of students. Of course there should be appropriate consequences for those who bully. But I wholeheartedly support positive reinforcement as the best learning tool for character education. CMS’s current character education program, “If Not Me Then Who?,” celebrates random acts of kindness, positive attitudes, integrity, and compassion. Students need to be encouraged and supported in respecting the individuality, abilities and privacy of others.
Our children are growing up in a pressured, wired world that poses unique challenges to parents. The district should conduct programs that assist parents in understanding how technology is being used and abused by children. I was happy to learn that the police departments of both West Windsor and Plainsboro want to partner with the PTAs of our district schools for parent/child education meetings regarding safe technology practices and the appropriate use of cell phones.
6.) Having sent your children to WW-P schools, what is the greatest gain for children and for the family through the education and activities in the West Windsor-Plainsboro district?
#b#Fleres#/b#: Over the years I have found everyone involved with the schools to be supportive, encouraging and truly interested in seeing our children succeed.
Another advantage of a WW-P education is the breadth of opportunities available to the students. From the scope of available courses to the music program to the wide range of extra-curricular activities offered, there is something for each and every student.
#b#Walsh#/b#: My children received a strong education that prepared them for college. They also participated in sports and music.
#b#Xu#/b#: The primary reason I moved to Plainsboro from Queens was to give my children the best education possible. The experience of my two children attending the schools here thus far has proven to me our teachers strive to get our children to think more deeply and complexly. The district is doing a great job preparing our students for college and beyond.
#b#Abitanto#/b#: There is a strong sense of community in each of the schools, which provides a great environment to learn and thrive. The curriculum challenges the students with problem solving, analytical thinking and working collaboratively with others. I see the results with each of my three children, who are all still in the district, as I review their homework and progress. I am very proud of their development.
#b#Kaish#/b#: With three children of varying academic passions and extracurricular interests, my family has experienced so much of what our school district has to offer, both in and out of the classroom. The strength of WW-P schools lies in the opportunities afforded to our students — during the school day as well as after school.
I feel lucky that my sons can go to school in a district that strongly believes children deserve a quality education that will prepare them well for college and careers in a diverse and changing world. In addition, I appreciate that our school district offers a multitude of teams, clubs and programs that foster collaboration and encourage students to explore their talents, skills, interests and values.
Our students have opportunities to think strategically, work cooperatively, communicate effectively and act responsibly. That is the greatest benefit of a WW-P education.
7.) If you are elected, which of the board’s committees would you most like to serve on?
#b#Fleres#/b#: If re-elected I would prefer to remain on the Finance Committee. As the only current board member among the candidates, I feel the need to provide some clarification on this question.
Candidates run for the Board of Education, not individual committees. All formal votes are made by the full board in public session. Being a member of one committee or another does not confer any special authority.
Committee assignments are made by the board president after the election. Voters do not get to pick who goes where and they should not base their votes on a candidate getting a specific committee assignment that may not happen. Also, over a three-year term, committee assignments often change. Of the seven current board members who have served more than one year, five have changed committees during their tenure, some more than once.
#b#Walsh#/b#: I would like to serve on the Finance Committee. As I am a certified public accountant with extensive business experience, I feel that I cam make an immediate impact on the district’s budget and financial processes.
#b#Xu#/b#: Curriculum committee.
#b#Abitanto#/b#: Finance committee.
#b#Kaish#/b#: Curriculum committee.
8. Are there any other school district issues you feel should be addressed?
#b#Fleres#/b#: With the budget vote in April, it is quite understandable that most discussions about our schools would involve spending and finances. As confirmed by every available external measurement, our district has operated cost-effectively and remains financially sound.
However, our schools exist to provide a quality education to the children of Plainsboro and West Windsor. When at the polls, voters should consider how the policies of single-issue candidates will affect that educational experience.
#b#Walsh#/b#: No response.
#b#Xu#/b#: I feel I can bring balance and a sense of calm to the board because of my experience of working with the others in a collaborative manner. If I am elected to the school board, I will work amicably with my peers for the benefit of all of our children. I have a young child still in elementary school. I know how important it is to protect his education along with all of the districts’ students. Our family has a direct interest in success of the school district.
#b#Abitanto#/b#: On a personal note, my son has life-threatening food allergies. In fact, in his school there are over 60 children with food allergies. I am happy that our district has an assigned nurse to each school, which is not the case in every district. However, I would like to see further education provided to the staff and faculty about allergy awareness, avoidance of allergens in classrooms with allergic children, and how to respond in the event of an emergency.
The number of children with food allergies has increased by 20 percent in the past 10 years, and 5.9 million children under the age of 18 in the U.S. have food allergies. Put another way, 1 in 13 children have food allergies. I want to make sure the staff in our district is educated, takes precautions to avoid potential dangers, and is prepared to ensure the safety of all children.
#b#Kaish#/b#: Our school district should have clearly defined standards and expectations in all classes. Each child should have a uniform experience no matter which school he attends or which teacher she has. Effective common assessments require parity across our classrooms and school buildings. The district should assess and facilitate consistency in homework assignments, grading practices, and the content and pace of the curriculum.
