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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 given up to 350 words to explain their candidacy and are listed below in alphabetical order. Election day was April 17, 2007. The school budget failed , 1046 "no" and 1013 "yes". Jump directly to each candidate:
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Mark Berry
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Candidate Statement: (This candidate has not provided a statement.)
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Steve Grumbach
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Candidate Statement:
Hi Again, I filled a vacant seat on the School Board for a short time in ’06 after serving on various committees within the District for 10 years. Since then, I have continued to be an active participant, and have participated as a member of the District’s Strategic Planning Committee. I am also currently serving as a VP of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Alumni Association Issues This is a time of tremendous opportunity for our District. It is on the cusp of the greatness it can demonstrate. We have put together a very solid Strategic Plan to guide the District forward in key areas of Student Achievement, Technology, Personnel, Facilities, Resources and Communications. But right now, that plan is just on paper. The devil is in the details, and we need to insure that the action plans that have come out of this are well executed and monitored and are constantly rechecked against our mission and goals. I feel that I will be a particularly valuable asset to the board at this time, due to my background in successfully managing these kinds of key deliverables in both my professional and extra curricular life. Key Traits Passion for action, unafraid to ask the tough questions and challenge the status quo Independent thinker Puts needs of majority ahead of desires of few. At AT&T over 25 years in Sales, Sales Management, Product Management and Marketing, Customer Service, Internet Services and Program/Project Management.
Fairleigh Dickinson University: Alumni Board -serving as VP.
Married, wife Sage, with 2 Boys currently in the District in second and seventh grade. I would appreciate your vote as one of your 3-full term candidates on April 17th Thanks, Steve
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Deb Labbadia
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Candidate Statement: My name is Debbie Labbadia. I believe that our most important investment is in our children’s education. As a member of the strategic planning committee I realized there are many areas that Readington will need to focus on in the coming years. Our facilities will require significant investment. We as a district need to gain higher student achievement while reducing costs through new methodologies and improved technology. Our staff needs comprehensive development support. As a board member I will devout time and energy to finding creative opportunities for cost savings and help identify new revenue streams to help fund these important future objectives My strengths are: I am an enthusiastic, “can do” person with strong communication skills and a willingness to work hard towards goals. I am interested in finding solutions to problems not complaining about them. I am team oriented and I value collaboration. I feel that we as a board can learn a lot from neighboring districts and modeling some of the successful strategies they are currently using. We will need to find and assimilate new technologies to streamline our work and become more efficient in doing the business of education. The actions we take in the next few years will define our commitment and our vision to making our district a stand-out among those in our area. I have been extensively involved in the community for six years, the HSA (VP at WHS and RMS), and Cub Scouts as den leader twice, and Pack secretary. I am currently involved in the formation of the Readington Education Foundation, and will help support innovation through that venue. I will bring energy, enthusiasm and creative thought to the table and I can communicate well with many different groups in the community. I have a BA from Drew University in Psychology/Zoology and minors in both sociology and English literature. I spent ten years conducting pharmacokinetic research at Novartis pharmaceuticals. I attended Hunterdon County schools and graduated from North Hunterdon High School. I am married and have two boys in Readington. Thanks for your support and please get out and vote!
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Joan Neumann
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Candidate Statement: My name is Joan Neumann and I am a candidate for the two-year seat on the Readington Board of Education. Presently, I serve on the Board due to my recent application, interview and appointment in January of 2007. As a former teacher and a mother of three teenagers, I appreciate the value of education. My children have been in the Readington schools since 1995. In that time I have seen many changes and challenges confront our schools. It is my belief that our district needs a fresh perspective to address these issues. Therefore, I strongly support the Five-Year Strategic Plan. The goals and strategies stated in the plan confront our district's weaknesses and build on its strengths. The plan was developed by community volunteers. It outlines the district's beliefs and goals for the next five years and the strategies to achieve those goals. The plan can be viewed on the school's website: http://www.readington.k12.nj.us. In order to improve our children’s education we deserve schools that attract and retain the best teachers. Despite all the improvements in technology and testing, it still is the classroom teacher who forms the foundation of an outstanding school experience. Anyone can attest to this by recalling a teacher who touched their lives. Our school curriculum should reflect the diverse needs of our student population. Readington serves over 2200 students. It is a complex task ensuring students are motivated and challenged, but this is the school's primary goal. I support the introduction of a more varied curriculum, especially in Math and English. Readington Middle School can be proud of its musical and athletic programs. Involvement in the school’s other extra-curricula offerings should be encouraged. Positive school involvement contributes to greater school spirit and assists in the transition to high school. Communication is key for any school district. Current information must be available to parents on a reliable school website. Continuation of other effective communication methods should also be available. I consider it a privilege to represent our schools and assist in assuring they are well run, efficient, and serving the best interests of our children.
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Marlene Orlandi
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Candidate Statement: Having served on the Board of Education this year, I believe more than ever that a diverse group of dedicated individuals can really make a difference. I have served on the Legislative, Policy and Facilities Committees and I believe in giving all issues the fair and complete review that they deserve. I promise to continue to be an independent voice, a team player and to always remember whom I am representing. We clearly have a lot of work to do but we have made an excellent beginning with the District Strategic Plan which will serve as a framework for building a better school district. This plan was a prerequisite for attaining our common goal -- that all students receive the best education possible. One part of this comprehensive plan calls for new strategies for measuring each student's growth over time. These innovations will help teachers, parents and students understand where each student is with respect to where they would like to be. Finally, I believe that our progress is only possible with the full support of the community. I will continue to strive for open and productive communication between parents, the administration and the board. Together we can achieve educational excellence.
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Britt Simon
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Candidate Statement: There are only a few days left before the election for the Readington School Board. By now, if you have been following the election, you know that my name is Britt Simon and I am running for one of the three year terms on the school board. Again I want to thank you for taking the time to learn about me and consider me as your choice to be a member of the Readington Board of Education. From my experiences I have learned that a key component to any successful operation is balance. Here in Readington, we are left balancing our need for an exceptional education system with the burden that doing so places on our taxpayers. As a secondary, but related issue, the values of our homes are closely tied to the quality of our educational system. As such, we are left with the undisputable goal of improving our schools while reducing our spending. Readington Schools have great strengths. Likewise it has some areas that need improvement. Our current math teaching method is the subject of much debate. However, it is my belief that our school should be careful to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Evaluations as to where the current method succeeds and where it fails are important. Likewise other methods should be evaluated. In doing so, we can judge what is best for all of our children. As I said in my earlier statement, the administration needs to maintain a commitment to our children while spending responsibly. Our children in Readington deserve the best education possible. I want to help my fellow community members to have a school system that spends responsibly with both short and long term thinking. I believe I possess the distinct ability to fill in some of the current gaps of the Board of Education with my personal and professional skills. In doing so, I hope to help to make Readington’s Board of Education a well rounded team. I promise to provide responsible and accountable service to the rest of my fellow Readington Township community members. If you have any question, please feel free to email or call me. Thank you.
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