Two slates of three are running for three available seats on the Hamilton Township Board of Education. Jason McSheene, Dina Thornton and Christopher Scales are on one slate, and John Muka, Jessica Trombino and Kyle Chadwick on the other.
Kyle D. Chadwick, 66, has lived in Hamilton for more than 40 years. He worked in the electronic security business before retiring in 2023. K-12 schools were among the clients he served. Chadwick’s children graduated from Steinert High School. He has never held public office.
Jason McSheene, 39, has lived in Hamilton for 8 years, and Mercer County for 17 years. He is a director of medical science communications, translating the latest clinical data on metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes) into educational videos, presentations and research journal articles for medical doctors, nurses and other clinicians. He is currently finishing his second term as a member of the school board, having been elected in 2019 and 2022.
McSheene has two children at McGalliard Elementary School and a younger child in daycare.
John Muka, 62, is a lifelong Hamilton resident. He spent a career in training and consulting. He has three adult children who all graduated from Hamilton High West.
Christopher Scales, 29, has lived in Hamilton his whole life. He is a lawyer and previously served on the Hamilton Township Board of Education from 2015 to 2018.
Dina Thornton, 54, has lived in Hamilton for 20 years. She is a legal assistant for Destribats Campbell Staub & Schroth, LLC, and a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty. She has served as a member of the Hamilton school board from 2013-16 and 2019 to the present, and was appointed to the Hamilton Township Council in March 2017. She has three children, including a daughter who is a senior at Nottingham High School. Her two eldest children graduated from Nottingham in 2020 and 2022.
Jessica Trombino, 53, has lived in Hamilton since 1996. She is a retired member of the armed services, serving from 1992 until her honorable discharge in 2000. She was a domestic manager for manyy ears while working part time with her husband in a home remodel/repair business.
She has one child currently attending Steinert, and her adult children all graduated from public schools. She has never run an elected position before.
CN: Why are you running, or running again, for the school board?
Chadwick: After speaking with current and retired teachers and speaking to some recent graduates, change is needed. Reviewing our schools test scores improvement on where we rank on a state level with most of school’s ranking in the bottom 20% state wide. This has an impact on the future of our students and a negative effect on every home owner in Hamilton as it drives our property values down.
Jason McSheene: Growing up in New Jersey, I had the privilege of attending strong public schools that helped me earn a Ph.D. in biomedical research and build my career in medical education. I volunteer as a school board member to thank those who worked thanklessly to provide excellent public school opportunities. Because all children deserve safe and effective education, I serve on the school board to give back and strengthen Hamilton schools.
John Muka: I have attended almost every school board meeting for the past three years and paid close attention to the schools in the meantime. Questions are not answered. Problems are ignored. Better schools require better school board members. There is a serious lack of diversity of thought. Critical questions are never asked by board members. “Hearing of the Public” questions are ignored.
Christopher Scales: My belief in public education and desire to serve our community and students fuel my candidacy for the school board. Over the last several years, our schools have made considerable strides. I am running to help continue moving our schools forward, celebrate the accomplishments of our students and staff, and approach challenges with compassion and open-mindedness.
But above all, I am committed to ensuring that every child, without exception, receives a quality education.
Dina Thornton: I am running for the board of education to continue working together to do what is in the best interests of our children and their families. Together we must celebrate our children’s accomplishments and continue to address the challenges we face. I am dedicated to putting our children first and ensuring that all students have the skills that they need to succeed.
Jessica Trombino: I am running for the first time because I am an involved parent in this district and a member of the PTSA. I’ve attended school board meetings on and off for years. Post Covid, I regularly attend school board meetings which is why I’m running. I feel there is no transparency nor partnership between the community and the school board especially in matters of student proficiency and fights/bullying.
CN: What is the role of a school board member?
Chadwick: A school board member should be working to insure we are first in providing a safe secure space for our staff and students. In addition, we need to make sure our students are being prepared for the real world where ever life takes them after graduation. Lastly, we need to ensure that our students know there are options if they going to college or learning a trade.
I will know I have done a good job when our test scores are not in the bottom 20% of the state. We can and must do better preparing our children.
McSheene: A school board member is tasked with oversight of their school district, instead of running said district. As board members, we set policy and ensure that the administration adheres to it. We also provide formal input on the superintendent. The board acts as the community’s official feedback on the district’s plans and actions.
Board members also hold many informal responsibilities, including: relaying community feedback to the administration and contributing various experiences/perspectives that strengthen discussions among the board. I believe I have done a good job because I am proud of my voting record in support of all students.
Muka: School board members should represent three traditional Hamilton values for our public schools: neighborhood schools at the elementary level, home rule (Hamilton residents determine what happens in Hamilton schools) and fully informed consent for how our tax money is being spent. The superintendent reports to the school board, not the other way around. Board members should enable clear communications to the community and work at increasing their involvement in making the schools better. A strong school board president has clear goals for the school board and reports on progress toward these goals at monthly meetings and in between.
Scales: The role of a school board member is not to run the district, but to ensure that it is run well. To do this effectively, a board member must be open-minded, well-prepared, and a bridge between the district personnel and community. On the Board, I established a reputation for transparency, ensuring that you are always informed and included, and acting in the best interests of our community and students. If elected, I intend to lead again in the same way and remain open to feedback from our community to help enhance my ability to serve.
Thornton: A school board member is responsible for overseeing that the district is well-run. We review, create and adopt policies as well as budget oversight. We hire and evaluate the superintendent and are responsible for always maintaining confidentiality which we are sworn to uphold. As a board member you must work with your colleagues and community to provide consistent communication in an effort to ensure that the district is well-run. We are constantly working towards making a positive difference by listening, being present, and being responsive to the needs of our district.
Trombino: The jobs of a school board member are nine elected public servants speak and vote on behalf of the district who voted them in on important matters being: Vote on policy that align with state education laws and community culture and expectations, Hire, support and hold accountable a superintendent who aligns with the district’s vision and community’s culture. Be responsible with the budget provided by the state and township’s taxes making sure money is distributed fairly and responsibly. Ensure the curriculum is supporting the students academic proficiency and challenging students to achieving their personal best.
CN: What are two issues that are of vital importance to the district, and how will you work to address them as a school board member?
Chadwick: The first issue is improving our test scores as we are near the bottom based on state rankings. We need to get back to the basic education. Fifteen of Hamilton’s 23 schools are ranked in the bottom 20% of the state, and that is just not good enough. In order to improve our schools, we have to get our teachers and parents involved and work together to make the Hamilton schools what they once were.
The second issue is school security we need to make sure our schools are locked down tight all day every day no exceptions that means that no one ever enters the school without showing ID and walking thru the metal detectors.
McSheene: Advancing student achievement in a holistic manner will always be a crucial issue for school board members. This goal is simple on its face but comprehensive in its factors. While educational success should include objective measures such as test scores, I understand the need for a comprehensive view of student health and academic preparedness. This encompasses everything from long-term facilities plan to ensuring our teachers are best in class. Our schools must foster a safe and productive environment that allows each student to develop their unique voices, values, and talents.
Secondly, expansion of Pre-K education in Hamilton is critical to aid in student preparedness ahead of kindergarten.
I will continue to champion these issues and ensure that material plans are implemented to address these issues.
Muka: The public schools’ essential mission is about students achieving high levels of proficiency in the skills of English language arts and math along with a general knowledge of the basics of history, geography, science and civics. Annual state testing clearly shows deficiencies in English and math. Over half our schools are ranked in the bottom third of all NJ schools, including 10 of 18 elementary schools, all three middle schools and two of three high schools. Grice Middle School itself is a 7.46 percentile rank — meaning 93% of NJ schools are testing better. This shocking level of performance is not talked about or addressed publicly by the board. It won’t get better if we can’t talk about it.
Scales: The most pressing issues facing our District are aging facilities and academics. Most of our school buildings are old, with some dating back over 100 years. With more than 12,000 students, our facilities are struggling to keep up with demand. I plan to work closely with the board and community, seeking your input and ideas to reimagine our spaces, ensuring they are safe and promote student success.
Academically, our district is still recovering from Covid-related learning loss, especially in reading and writing. If elected, I will champion a stronger curriculum and expand high intensity tutoring. I also support introducing universal pre-K to Hamilton. Early intervention improves long-term outcomes, and I am committed to ensuring every child in our district has that strong start.
Thornton: We have worked over the last several years by addressing facility issues and updating our buildings. As a growing district, this is not something that can be addressed overnight and we need to work together to ensure that our children have a safe and inviting environment to learn. As a board member I will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure that we work together to improve our facilities and provide a vision for the future. We need to continue to enhance our academic programs while ensuring that every student receives the resources needed to be successful. We need to create programs for our earliest learners, by working on expanding our pre-school programs to provide an early academic foundation for our children.
Trombino: One of two biggest issues currently in our district right now is we need to determine what is causing our students’ achievement gap. According to a recent state test result, 15 out of 24 of our schools are not proficient in English and math. That is very concerning to me and my neighbors. When I’ve attended school board meetings I never hear the members report on such an important matter. When those in the community bring it up in question at the meeting there is no response as to why and how the district plans to support our students academic needs to be better prepared for promotion to the next grade level or college ready graduation.
CN: Are Hamilton Township public schools a good place for students to get an education?
Chadwick: Simple answer is no based on state rankings, speaking to recent graduates, teachers both active and retired, and just talking to people in general.
Hamilton schools have become so bad that one of the members of the town council spends over $30,000 per student a year to send his children to private school. It is sad that an elected township official has no faith in our school system. (Editor’s note: the Hamilton Post was not able to verify this claim.)
McSheene: Yes, I am grateful that I have started my family in Hamilton and proud that they have attended Hamilton public schools. One of our largest strengths is the unique diversity of backgrounds, customs and experiences found among the students and staff in our district. The tremendous improvements in programming, staffing, and facilities I have witnessed over eight years are great.
At the same time, we all agree that there are multiple areas for improvement.
Muka: We have capable people. Our superintendent is highly competent. We have plenty of good and dedicated teachers. Unfortunately, the main focus of attention has wandered away from the basics that K-12 students need to compete with other students for jobs, careers, and higher education. Many parents are beginning to realize that we don’t have the performance levels we expect or used to have. We need three new people.
Scales: I’m proud to be a graduate of Hamilton Township public schools, where I received a strong education that enabled me to earn a law degree. As a community, we are fortunate to have dedicated teachers and administrators committed to student success. While challenges lie ahead for the district, I am optimistic about our future. Together, with collaboration and focus, we can overcome these obstacles and continue building a school system that puts students first.
Thornton: Hamilton offers a wonderful education. As a parent of three children that have attended Hamilton, I am proud and grateful of the education they received. Our greatest asset is our dedicated teachers, administrators and staff that work so hard, so that each child can achieve their goals and succeed. We have enhanced our curriculum and resources. I believe that Hamilton offers a strong foundation for our children’s academic success and prepares them for the future.
Trombino: I am personally invested with a child in this district and I’d like our teachers to be offered monthly anonymous surveys to really hear how they feel so that we can work together to make Hamilton Schools what I know our kids, families and teachers deserve. I know for a fact that teachers are inflating grades for students that are struggling. The school board must find a solution to what’s causing our kids achievement gap.
CN: Why should Hamiltonians vote for you in this year’s election?
Chadwick: I believe that I bring a different way of looking at the issues. A straightforward approach to doing what is right for or students, staff, parents and yes, the taxpayers who are footing the bill is needed.
We need transparency from our school board and push to get back to basics. If you have ever gone to a school board meeting, you are given a chance to speak, however, you never get your questions answered.
McSheene: I believe that my experiences as a working father of students currently attending Hamilton schools is unique among the candidates. Coming from a family that was financially disadvantaged in my childhood, I relate with many families in our town today. I also actively contribute my knowledge of medical science and education to relevant board decisions.
Finally, I will continue respectful discourse for the sake of advancing progress in our students and schools.
Muka: For myself as well as for Jessica and Kyle, we are ready for a new look at our real problems and issues. We are ready to start asking questions at the school board meetings, to get at the real issues and prompt better ways forward. We are ready to abandon failed approaches and policies and get real about discipline issues. It’s time for a better school board pursuing better schools.
Scales: Hamiltonians should vote for me and my running mates, Dina Thornton and Jason McSheene, because we are proven leaders dedicated to public education and student success. We’ve listened, acted in the best interest of our community, and remained mindful of taxpayers. We have a deep understanding of our district, which allows us to share a clear, unified vision for moving our district forward. Together, we offer experience, commitment, and a focus on continued progress.
Thornton: It has been an honor to serve our community as a board member. This year I am asking voters to support me and my running mates Jason McSheene and Chris Scales. Our children are our future, and we will always do what is in the best interest of all children and their families. We are dedicated to upholding these values and are committed to working together for every student’s success.
Trombino: John Muka, Kyle Chadwick and I are committed to listening to Hamilton’s families, teachers, and residents regarding all things school board. Hamilton schools are a treasure to our neighborhood and we want to keep it that way. The future success of Hamilton is very important to us and we want our children to want to raise their children here as well. We’re committed to building on what’s working and target what’s not with working solutions.
