By Dave Fried
Comprising the largest body of elected officials in the United States, school board members are trusted to set the policies of our public elementary, middle and high schools.
School board elections often are overlooked by a vast majority of residents, and that is unfortunate for two reasons:
1.) It is a unique opportunity for residents to have a say in the policy decisions that directly affect your children.
2.) Since the school district accounts to more than 50 percent of your total property tax bill, it is an opportunity for you to have a say in how those policy decisions will impact your own financial situation.
On Nov. 4, residents have a chance to improve one of the key mechanisms needed to responsibly educate Robbinsville’s children by voting in the local school board election.
School board elections were moved to November several years ago with the hope of greater turnout. This is a very important election, and as parents of two children in the school district, my wife Kitt and I intend to focus on what each of the candidates has to say about their vision for the future and then make our choice accordingly. I can say without equivocation that one of the criteria we would like to see on any BOE is more parents with a vested interest holding the majority of these seats.
Building a solid, trusting relationship with the BOE through improved communication will invariably help everyone’s tax bill, but more importantly it will better serve the students and the many families that have put their faith and trust in the Robbinsville school district.
It is my opinion that opportunities have been missed in the past, so in this school board election I will be focusing on candidates who are willing to work side by side with the township and the community to bring fresh ideas and positive, proactive dialogue to the table.
How do you know if your school board is doing a good job? You can start by attending the monthly meetings. Once there, residents will see firsthand what school boards actually do. Visit the district website at robbinsville.k12.nj.us to find out where and when meetings are held. After a few meetings, residents will better understand how the board makes decisions and interacts with both the superintendent and the broader Robbinsville community. There also are two public participation sessions.
Most importantly, members of any school board must believe in the value of public education, and they must be dedicated to serving and teaching all children. They must believe in the democratic process and have respect for diverse points of view. Building trust with the public and local government also is paramount.
Therefore, I encourage everyone to take the time to get to know all of the candidates running in the upcoming Robbinsville Board of Education election. I’ll see you at the polls Nov. 4!
Dave Fried is the Mayor of Robbinsville.
