Meet the 12 candidates for three Old Bridge Board of Education seats

A dozen candidates are running for three three-year Old Bridge Board of Education seats on a wide range of issues from loss of state aid and lack of transparency to loss of learning during the pandemic and politicization of policies.

In addition, there is only one candidate for a one-year term on the board. Divinder Singh is running unopposed for the open one-year term on a "Recover Lost Learning" ticket in the Nov. 8 election.

Two current members − Jill Cali and Teresa Burns − declined to run for reelection. When Jill DeCaro stepped down last year for a seat on the Township Council, Elena Francisco was appointed to that seat and is now running for a full three-year term.

The race for the three three-year terms includes two incumbents − Francisco and Sal Giordano − as well as Richard Dunn and Salvatore J. DiPrima, two former board members who served as board presidents during their tenure.

Recently endorsed by the Old Bridge Education Association (OBEA), Jen D'Antuono, Marjorie Jodrey and Lance Hilfman are newcomers to the school board race.

According to OBEA president Andrew Lewis, the OBEA has become "increasingly concerned about the politicization of the Board of Education." This is the first time the OBEA, which is comprised of more than 1,000 educators, ever endorsed candidates.

D’Antuono is running on the "For The Kids" ticket and Jodrey is on the "Paraprofessional, Teacher, BCBA" ticket. DiPrima is on the "Kids First" ticket, Dunn is on the "Education Empowers Children" ticket and newcomer Raya Arbiol is on the "Children First" ticket.

Meet the candidates

A two-time school board president, Dunn served on the board for 10 years. He has lived in the township for 24 years and is married with two adult children, both of whom are graduates of the school system. Dunn is employed as senior vice president for a property management company. Currently the township's fire chief, Dunn also served 19 years as a volunteer firefighter for the South Old Bridge Fire Company.

Dunn said he believes that the current school board has caused "irreparable harm to the children and school district." He added the "soul of our schools is at stake."

"I decided to seek election again to advocate and promote for the preservation of the quality programs in our wonderful school district and to fight for the best interest of our staff and students," Dunn said. "I believe that education is the solution to many of society's ills. I am disheartened at the current state of the Old Bridge Board of Education."

Dunn sees the most critical issues are the "sequestration of state aid," enhanced "special services for our special needs population" and "improved education facilities."

"The reduction in aid will drastically impact our vital programs which have benefited our children over the years," Dunn said. "We must ensure that our incredible teachers and professionals have the resources to provide the finest education to our children."

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A father of two grown children who attended district schools, DiPrima previously served on the school board for nine years, twice as vice president and once as president. DiPrima said that as a former board member, he was part of the "renaissance" of the school district.

"During my tenure, we brought this school district forward, from a good district to a great district," said DiPrima, a branch operations manager in the financial services industry. "Some of the accomplishments I am proudest of are the implementation of full-day kindergarten, defeat of the charter school application, attaining 'District of Character' and 'Blue Ribbon' status, and keeping most programs and personnel intact amidst massive budget cuts."

He said he believes top challenges facing the district are the impact of the pandemic, state aid loss and special education. According to DiPrima, the pandemic has forced the district to "take a step backward."

"Through the hard work and cooperation of every stakeholder, we’re coming back, and I would love to be a part of the rebuilding once again, as I know I would be an asset having already been through it," he said. "Our school district is at a crossroads; this is where experience and leadership matters."

For 22-year-old incumbent Giordano, the key issue is fiscal responsibility. A student himself, Giordano is working on his master’s degree in accounting and focuses his attention on more traditional issues, such as spending and taxing.

"Overseeing the budget is one of the most important parts of being a board member because with the reduced state aid in our district, we have to focus on real educational expenses instead of capital projects that have the ability to be postponed or rejected outright," Giordano said.

It's the time to focus on such issues, Giordano said. He also believes high school students need to be more prepared for employment and/or college and learning lost from school closures during the pandemic needs to be recovered and prevented from happening again.

According to D'Antuono, her campaign slogan − "For Your Kids, My Kids, All Kids" − reflects how she lives her life. A mother of an elementary school student and middle school student, D'Antuono, a salon owner and cosmetologist, has been a PTA board member for eight years. She said she believes respect, education basics and vocational classes need to be given more attention in schools.

"I am on the lookout for all kids. I will speak up for any kid I encounter. I treat every student as I would want my kids treated," said D'Antuono, a product of the township school system. "I've seen the changes that have occurred on the Board of Education for the past few elections as well as people using the Board of Education as a jumping platform to get into political positions elsewhere in town. I feel the children of Old Bridge are not a platform to jump off of or to stand on − they are a platform to stand for. "

She would like to see less "games" on the board, more focus on the board's mission and a cohesive board working together.

"I've always taught my children, you can't complain about an issue unless you're willing to step up and do something," D'Antuono said. "Why can't the board work together to get decisions and tasks done? Committees have been reformed and are still not meeting timely. I believe in working smarter, not harder − why have the same discussion twice?”

A former New York City Department of Education paraprofessional and teacher, Jodrey has been in education for 26 years, which also is as long as she has lived in the township. She also has experience as an autism instructional coach, education administrator and is a board-certified behavior analyst. Jodrey has a grown daughter who attended township schools.

The issues that Jodrey believes are most important include students returning to classrooms in a post-pandemic environment, school safety and school funding.

"We invest in things that matter to us and nothing matters more than the academic and social emotional wellbeing of our kids," Jodrey said. "I believe in Old Bridge schools, and I will work diligently to be the bridge for families, students, educators, the community and taxpayers to ensure that Old Bridge schools maintain their level of excellence and all students get what they need."

Hilfman has lived in the township for more than 30 years, raised his children in town and is married to a retired district teacher. A middle school special education teacher in Irvington, Hilfman said he knows what the school system was like and what it can be.

"We have had a lot to offer our students and staff in the past," Hilfman said. "Unfortunately, I see the current BOE prioritizing their own personal agendas and not focusing on the needs of all our staff and students. We are here for one purpose and one purpose alone − to give our children access to the best education possible."

Hilfman prioritizes innovative ways to provide for educators and services in lieu of rising costs, rebounding from learning loss since the pandemic and educating the whole child as the main issues for the district and school board.

"It should be the board's goal to have our administration be able to understand what our students need to succeed and cope emotionally, educationally and creatively in 2022," Hilfman said. "We need to embrace concepts such as Social Emotional Learning and promote acceptance for our students to see and understand the way the world is and can be, so that our educational system can better prepare our children for the 'real' world."

A father of four and grandfather, Cornelius Akubueze has lived in the township for three decades. He sees himself as an advocate for fostering a safe and healthy learning environment for current and future students as well as an advocate for parents, taxpayers and educators. He said all "interested parties" should work together to achieve what is best for the "students’ future health and education goals, employment opportunities and civic-minded engagement."

The most pressing issues, Akubueze said, are "encouraging and engaging a healthy learning environment," the "safety, security and health" of students, addressing "teacher and staff needs" and "deficits in the budget."

A financial services professional, small business owner and U.S. Navy veteran, Arbiol has lived in the township for almost 20 years. While it is Arbiol's first time on the ballot, she raised her six younger siblings after her mother's death and all five attended the district's schools. Her "Children First" slogan connects to her belief that "no matter what the issues are, children should be prioritized in all major decisions with a strong collaboration with parents."

Pressing issues for Arbiol include improving the district's special education program, creating "a shared vision for academic achievement by improving fiscal management" and devising "a plan for adequate and appropriate resources available to meet all standards regarding students' success."

"I have a genuine interest in improving the quality of education in my school district and enhancing the way it’s operated," said Arbiol, who is running on a slate with other "like-minded" candidates.

Matthew DeFranco sees accountability as the umbrella for all the most important issues facing the school district. Those issues include a "continued statewide funding crisis," the "social and academic impact of the COVID pandemic" on students and a "need to bring about an improved standard of transparency to those involved in leading the school district."

DeFranco, a parent of two elementary-aged children, moved to the district 10 years ago. In the finance industry for more than 20 years, DeFranco and his wife are active PTA members and class parents.

"I would seek to set a new strategic and long-range plan to enhance our district's financial stability,” DeFranco said. "As part of this plan it is imperative to include all stakeholders as this will help foster trust and pride in our leaders and board members as they are the facilitators so our financial operations."

Robert M. Davis, a 1988 graduate of Madison Central High School, raised two children who also attended district schools. Davis said he is running for a seat because he would like to "be involved in the decision-making process" to help guide district students "to create their own pathways for their education and future."

Issues that need to be focused on include building a "solid core curriculum with a focus of more Math, Science and English/Language Arts" and ensuring that trade curriculums and programs get an equal amount of attention, Davis said.

Davis supports the "expansion and exposure of multiple programs in the district," and "updating and renovating" schools.

At the time of publication, there was no response or information available from Francisco or Lynn Berghahn.

email: cmakin@gannettnj.com

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ election: Old Bridge Board of Education race preview