There are four main ideas that form the foundation of this campaign – and that would inform how I make decisions as a Board member.
The first idea is that as a community, we need to maintain our investment in our public schools. West Orange has a great school system, but this is not a given. The district has been forced to tighten its belt over the last ten years, and there’s little “fat” left to cut. In the past, we’ve seen what happens when we try too hard to restrain the budget, and if we want the district to continue to thrive in the future we have to put it on a path of small, sustainable growth.
Read more here about why we need to maintain our investment in our public schools.
The second idea is that we need to make sure that we are making diversity, inclusion, and equity a priority. Our community is incredibly diverse. But there are times when our district falls short when it comes to creating an inclusive learning environment and offering equitable opportunity to all students. If we are intentional about looking at issues through these lenses, we can and will do better.
Read more about how we can make diversity, inclusion, and equity a priority.
The third idea is that students benefit when education unions and management find ways to collaborate. Professor Saul Rubenstein at Rutgers has been studying this issue for years, and with the partnership of NJ School Boards Association and NJEA he’s created a program to help districts foster collaboration. West Orange should be a part of that collaborative.
Read more about how we can foster collaboration between labor and management.
Finally, as a social studies educator, I believe that civics education is the fundamental purpose of our school system. Too often, civics is lost beneath the ocean of content that social studies teachers have to deal with. There’s plenty of research about what works – we need to implement it. Every student deserves a civics education that is both participatory and inclusive.
Read more about the possibilities for civics education.
So that’s what I believe in. These are ideas are foundational to my campaign, and they will guide my decisions as a Board member.
But I need your help to win. Here’s how you can help.