Four candidates are on the ballot for Hamilton Township Board of Education this fall — two long-time incumbents, and two challengers, including one who has run for a seat on the board in years past.
Incumbents Richard Kanka and Susan Ferrara are on November’s ballot. They are joined there by candidates Stephanie Williams and Alexander Difalco, Jr. Difalco is running for the first time, while Williams ran in 2021 and 2022.
Incumbent Anthony Celentano is not running for re-election, meaning there will be at least one new member of the board come Jan. 1.
With no municipal elections scheduled for this year, the school board contest will be the only one on the ballot for Hamilton voters, in terms of township races.
Community News sent questionnaires to all four candidates asking them to lay out their cases for election or re-election as the case may be.
Alexander Difalco, Jr., 19, is a retail associate and college student. The Hamilton Square resident has lived in the township for 12 years.
Sue Ferrara, 70, is a freelance writer who lives in Hamilton Square. She is a 20-year resident of the township.
Richard J. Kanka, 73, is a retired member of Plumbers Pipefitters and HVAC Techs Local 9. The Mercerville resident has lived in Hamilton for nearly his entire life. He is married to wife Maureen for 46 years. Daughter Jessica and son Jeremy attended Sayen, Reynolds and Steinert. Daughter Megan (deceased) attended Sayen.
Stephanie Williams, 49, is an associate director, Distributor Relations at Integra. She recently moved to the Hamilton Square area after living in the Russell Terrace area in Hamilton for 21 years.
Williams is married to husband, Victor, and together they have six children, five of whom have attended and graduated from schools in the HTSD. Their youngest is currently a senior at Nottingham.
Community News: Tell us about the moment that you decided to run, or run again, for the school board.
Alexander Difalco, Jr.: My decision was a culmination of witnessing the concerns of my fellow community members going unaddressed. The many teachers, parents, and as well as my classmates felt their valuable opinions and insight were being ignored. At one point during the end of my senior year at Steinert High School, seeing no real viable candidates opposing the status quo, I decided it was my duty to advocate for Hamilton residents who want to see change.
Sue Ferrara: I want to continue to represent the community, and hold the line on spending where possible, while working with the superintendent and his administration as they move forward in their efforts to continue strengthening the school system we call HTSD.
Rebuilding a district as large as ours takes time. It takes the will and support of the community. Institutions—like public education—are always a work in progress.
Richard J. Kanka: The decision was discussed with my family about running for re-election because of the many hours committed it takes to be a effective board member. My decision comes with family support as I feel there’s more work to be completed.
Stephanie Williams: Mr. James Stevenson encouraged me to run years ago. I have a deep genuine passion for helping and encouraging others to be the best version of themselves they can be. I am running again because I would love an opportunity to be part of a team that is helping to make a positive differnce for those we serve in our community.
Community News: Grade the job the school board has done in the past year. What can you as a member of the school board do to maintain or improve this grade going forward?
Alexander Difalco, Jr.: C. I think the board has an overall mixed track record this year. Starting with the good, I think the board’s partnership and cooperation with nearby colleges has been a positive development. The partnership with The College of New Jersey in training new teachers I believe shows that some members of the board are concerned with the poor academic performance of Hamilton schools. The more recent partnership regarding advanced placement courses with the college serves to expand the opportunities for Hamilton students.
One critical error this past year was the addition of two new vice principals to the district. I believe that this decision took away significant resources that should have been used to take care of and expand our teaching staff.
Sue Ferrara: A-/B+. A majority of current board members champion public education and work to find the balance needed to serve the needs and interests of all students. When a group of people have the same vision, it becomes easier to make change and push forward. Supporting the superintendent in his initiatives has made the district vibrant.
Despite significant communications from the district, some community members still complain about transparency. I think the issue stems from the fact that some people need to learn how to access social media sites; they need to learn how to use Zoom or Google Meet. It’s not cost effective to send mailings across the district. The district could do some outreach. I have to think about what that would look like.
Richard J. Kanka: I give a grade of A. This is based on the communication with the administration and many aggressive programs that are on the horizon. Our committee arrangements are very effective with good communication between each committee. If there’s anything that could improve, I think a greater interest and participation at the board meeting. To maintain the grade is to keep communication at the level it’s at right now.
Stephanie Williams: To be fair I would grade the job the school board has done in this past year with an B+. The only reason I’m grading with an B+ is because no one and no board will ever be perfect but we have come such a long way and continue to make progress. I know special education has been a prioirty and absolutely needed focus over the past few years and I know so much progress this past year has been made. Yet, work still needs to be done and there is always going to be room for improvement. I see concerns over “transparency” but believe we need to do better as a board to direct parents where to find the information they feel may be hidden that is not. Communication with our community is essential. I would love an opportunity to work along side other members on the board to find ways to improve together.
Community News: What are two vital issues facing the school board today, and what will you do as a member of the board to address them?
Alexander Difalco, Jr.: The two biggest issues facing our board today are low test scores and a lack of budgetary transparency. 24.7% of our students are proficient in mathematics while only 38.5% are proficient in English language arts. We are failing to teach the most essentials with even some effectiveness, leaving our students unprepared for college and the workforce.
Hamilton needs more teachers and smaller classroom sizes. We also need to attract teaching talent to our district through increased salaries and benefits for teaching staff. Another issue currently with the district is the lack of communication and transparency with the taxpayer. Addressing this issue can be as simple as mailing budgetary reports to taxpayers. This initiative would strengthen the community’s trust in the board.
Sue Ferrara: Currently, the biggest challenge facing the district is rapid enrollment growth. School opened this year with 12,600 students. That enrollment number will continue to fluctuate as Hamilton Township approves more housing developments. A committee of dedicated teachers, staff and community members have been developing a district Strategic Plan for addressing the overcrowding we are seeing. I am anxious to see what this committee will recommend to the BOE this fall.
And with growth comes expenses. My operative phrase is always: Finding balance. Being a good steward of taxpayer dollars while helping students reach their potential guides me. But school districts must work within many guidelines set by the federal and state governments. BOEs dance to many tunes—sometimes playing all at once.
Richard J. Kanka: The biggest challenge facing the board and the administration are test scores and student attendance. Develop programs that interest students and with that, interest in school may help with attendance, which will in turn may help with test scores. As we all know, with more participation comes a more efficient student.
Stephanie Williams: It is vital to make sure our students have the resources needed to be successful in their futures. It is just as vital to make sure we attain top talent to lead our students to success. As a member of the board I would like to make sure we are doing all that we can to provide students and teachers the resources they need to be successful.
Community News: What will you bring, or what have you brought, to the school budget process that shows that you can be an asset to the board as it considers the 2025-26 budget next year?
Alexander Difalco, Jr.: Being a recent graduate from this school district, I am more familiar with the state of our schools than anyone else in this race. I know which aspects of our public school system need the most attention. My time in this district has provided me with insight into the state of our facilities, our staffing needs and the needs of our students.
Sue Ferrara: I previously served on a school board in New York State which is where I first learned to examine budgets and ask the hard questions. HTSD is fortunate to have, in my opinion, one of the best business administrators in New Jersey. She is responsive and knowledgeable. The district continues to have clean budget audits.
I will continue to do what I have done during my previous terms; thoroughly examine the budget. Ask questions. Think about the various needs in our schools. And most importantly, think about the tax burden. That process includes engaging in conversations with my colleagues and listening. Again, it’s all about striking a balance.
Richard J. Kanka: As a current Financial Committee chairman, we have moved over the years from direct equipment purchases to a lease purchase program, The district has moved away from a NJ state health benefits program and is now self insured. Just these two moves have saved millions in cost to the district. With this, we have been able to increase funding for additional student programs.
As far as budgetary concerns, the committee has a consultant that is a watchdog for the district. We are assured to maintain a responsible spending practice with carryover surplus that doesn’t encumber the next year budget process.
Stephanie Williams: I have negotiated terms and contracts as part of my responsibilities for my day job. I have been recognized for my problem solving skills even in the most challenging of situations. I may not have experience with our budget yet but if elected I will roll up my sleeves and apply the skills I have to help support those sitting with me at the table every way that I can.
Community News: Do you believe that it is important that the board of education work to provide a safe and accepting environment for all students, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation? Why or why not?
Alexander Difalco, Jr.: I believe the board must create an environment where all are welcome. Our district encompasses students from many perspectives, opinions, and beliefs, we must ensure that all can be safe and accepted in Hamilton. We must have no tolerance for harassment, intimidation, or bullying of any kind.
Sue Ferrara: Absolutely. One of the many goals of public education should is to learn how to respectfully coexist with all sorts of people. When to engage; when to walk away. Learning that my rights end where yours begin. At the end of the day, we are all human beings with the need to be loved and accepted on a very basic level.
The board president constantly reminds us that adults—especially parents—re role models. Our children watch how we respond; how we handle ourselves in public. We need to be respectful to one another.
That doesn’t mean a parent can’t limit what students come into their homes. It just means: Please don’t be mean to people not like you.
Richard J. Kanka: As of three years ago the district has moved in an aggressive direction of school safety. The addition of new entry into classrooms, Metal detectors, more police presence, and additional campus monitors at each elementary school. There are other initiatives in the works to increase student and staff safety.
Stephanie Williams: Absolutely! This is one of the many reasons I would like an opportunity to serve those in our community. I love our kids and I love their families. School is a place for education regardless of your race, religion or sexual orientation. When our kids are thriving so are we and so is our community. All I care about is that each and every one of them has an equal opportunity to better themselves with the resources we provide them so that they can have the future they dreamed of. They should definetely have a safe and accepting environment so they can thrive and we should all be proud to make sure they do!
Community News: Hamilton has a new charter school this year, Thrive Charter School, formerly Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy. Would you consider enrolling a child in a charter school rather than a school in the Hamilton Township School District?
Alexander Difalco, Jr.: While I would consider it, my preference is to enroll my children in the Hamilton Township School District. The academic performance of our district would make any parent cautious in enrolling their children in our school district.
For all of its many shortcomings, we have many great people in the Hamilton Township School District working to ensure that our children receive the best education possible. While I am very skeptical of the policies and direction of the board, I trust the teachers and faculty members of our district to educate my children.
Sue Ferrara: Whether a parent enrolls a student in a charter school or not is not the issue. The issue is that every charter school pulls a significant amount of money from the district. It’s not just the per pupil dollar amount—it’s also busing costs.
Charter schools can subtly select students. So, for example, many charter schools encourage parents of students who need special services to use public schools. In some cases, charter schools are also segregated. It’s interesting to see state legislators encouraging small districts to combine into one larger district, while allowing charter schools to open as stand-alone entities.
Richard J. Kanka: I believe in the public school system. We have better resources and the staff to achieve a better learning environment.
Stephanie Williams: No, I would not consider enrolling my child in a charter school because I’m happy with our school district. As a parent I’ve learned that our childrens education is a partnership with the teachers and administrators. I do not feel my child would be served better at a charter school.
Community News: Why should voters elect you to serve the next three years on the school board?
Alexander Difalco, Jr.: Hamilton voters should elect me because I serve as the only candidate promising change in this election. Our district faces many challenges with test scores, bureaucracy, and transparency. I stand as the only candidate willing to tackle these issues head-on. We need a fresh perspective and a new vision on this board if Hamilton is to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
Sue Ferrara: Maintaining stability on the board as Dr. Scott Rocco continues his mission is key. The district high schools begin block scheduling next year. This is long overdue.
At this juncture, I bring maturity and institutional knowledge to the board, having served since 2016. I weigh my decisions carefully. I do not allow loud voices to strip away student privacy rights under the law. I can be trusted to keep private matters private.
Richard J. Kanka: With what has been accomplished and more programs on the horizon I feel as an experienced board member my relationship and experience is a plus to see these programs to fruition.
Stephanie Williams: I hope our voters elect me this term because it would be such a great honor in serving those in our community! You can trust knowing my seat at the table will be one that brings positivitiy, encouragement and concern for all of our students all while working along side those already serving our great community. Wanting to see our youth be the best they can be and helping to ensure they have the resources they need and preparing them to go out into the world is all that matters to me. Having your vote in November would truly be an honor! I promise to work hard for you and your child while partnering with our school community.
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