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Inclusion on this page in no way implies that readingtonparents.org approves or disapproves of any single candidate, nor does it imply that the individual candidates approve or disapprove of the other content on this site. Related information on the web: |
The information below was provided by the candidates themselves and it is included on this website for use by the voters. All Readington school board candidates have been offered this opportunity to explain their candidacy and are listed below in alphabetical order.
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Janet Cole
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Candidate Statement: My name is Janet Cole and I have resided in the village of Readington for the past 15 years. I’m married and have two children, both of whom currently attend Readington Township schools. My family carries an intriguing connection with our past, as my son and daughter are 10th generation descendants of Casper Berger. I’m an Account Manager for the largest paper manufacturer in North America, experienced with customer negotiations, consensus building, working collaboratively and sales and marketing management. I’ve served on two boards: The Consistory of the Readington Reformed Church and I was President of the Partnership in Print Production (NYC), a non-profit graphic arts organization. I’ve also been a fund distribution volunteer for the United Way (Somerville) and coached Recreation softball for four years. I am running for School Board because I’m interested in making a contribution to my community, lending my enthusiasm and fresh outlook to the school district and being a part of the decision-making process. I believe we have excellent schools and yet I believe school improvement is ongoing and managing change is difficult. The challenges facing schools are substantial and significant. Schools will inevitably have to “do more with less” in this economic environment which will require working smarter. Planning for success in our schools should be interactive and I seek to understand our district needs in the context of reaching defined school, district and state goals. I expect these goals to align in order to minimize wasted energy and resources. I value the role of teachers in our schools, in our community and in our society. My husband is a teacher, as are my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. I respect both the pressures and joys in teaching. I plan to be:
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Annette Marsh
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Candidate Statement: My name is Annette Marsh and I am seeking re-election for my 2nd term on the Board of Education. I am currently the Vice President of the board and have held positions on the Finance Committee, Education Committee, Personnel Committee and was also the Chairperson of the Communications Committee. I am active on various ad-hoc committees including the Survey and Technology committees. I was involved in the principal search for Holland Brook School and am the Family School Connection representative for HBS. In 2007, I was also the board’s representative for the Delegate Assembly. As an experienced leader, I have represented the community well in various roles on the board. I was part of the search team for a new Superintendent, a key member in passing the 2008-09 Budget and Referendum - at no cost to the taxpayer. I have also helped improve the communication lines between the Board and the Community – an area where problems existed just a few years ago. While in this position, the annualized growth rate in the budget has been held to less than 1.5%, and the teacher turnover rate has been significantly reduced – retaining quality staff vital to providing the best education for our children. The Board has made some good strides over the past few years, however, there is still much more work that needs to be done. I am committed to raising high standards for our children’s education, while being conscious of the fiscal responsibility to the community during the process. I am not afraid to take a stand and place my vote where it will do the most good for both the school system and the taxpayers, even if it is not in line with the majority of the other board members. I have balanced my active role as a member of the School Board with being a Meals on Wheels volunteer, a Eucharistic Minister at Immaculate Conception Church, and a Field Day Co-Chair at Holland Brook School. I have been a resident of the community for 16 years, married with three children. I hold both a BA in Math from Drew University and a MS in Management from Stevens Institute of Technology.
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Joan Neumann
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Candidate Statement: My name is Joan Neumann and I am running for a three year seat on the Readington Township Board of Education. I have served on the Board for the past two years. During that time I have chaired the Personnel and Communications Committee, served as a member of the Board’s Negotiating Committee, attended various school board workshops and classes, and represented Readington as delegate to the New Jersey School Board Assembly. As a parent of three children, all of whom have attended or presently attend Readington Schools, and as a former teacher, I believe that I bring a unique perspective to the Board, one that understands the needs of our students, the value of our teachers and the concerns of our town’s taxpayers. It is a challenging time to be a member of the Board. How do we maintain the quality of our schools during this time of economic uncertainty? Knowledgeable, reasoned and prudent decision-making is a key factor in attaining this goal. The ability to appreciate the long term impact of your decisions, not just the immediate impact, must be kept mindful as a board member. It is an honor to hold an elected office, it is a task I believe to be worthwhile in spite of the cynical view some hold of public servants. I am proud to have represented Readington and welcome the privilege of doing so again. Readington is a community that values education. Perhaps it is during these difficult economic times that the relevance of schools will be understood even more.
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