Meet West Morris Regional School Board Candidate Suzanne Bliesath
NEW JERSEY - In a few short weeks what is expected to be one of the most charged elections in modern history is set to take place and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the Nov. 3 election.
Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the county clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the general election. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Russ.Crespolini@patch.com. What you see below are their answers with mild style edits.
Name: Suzanne Bliesath
Previous Elective Office, if any: n/a
Education: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), The Ohio State University 1998, BA, Liberal Studies Math and Natural Sciences, William Paterson College 1994
Occupation: Veterinarian, Black River Veterinary Hospital
Fun Fact: I met my husband at a bowling alley.
What inspires you: A challenge
Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?
I am the mother of two West Morris Central Alumni and a current junior, a veterinarian, working mom, and Washington Township resident for almost 18 years. I have seen changes in the school over the past few years that have benefit a smaller group of students to the detriment of a larger group and considered running last year. There have been significant changes with little to no input from parents. When COVID-19 caused the schools to go to remote learning last spring and hybrid this school year, I felt compelled to run. I feel that the knowledge of disease transmission and control of spread I obtained in veterinary school and my experience and familiarity with many different areas in the high school allow me to have a global view of issues presented before the board. I want to advocate for all our students to succeed and for consideration of parental concerns when making policy changes. I feel strongly that the high school is an integral part of the community.
2. The single most pressing issue facing our school district and what you intend to do about it:
The single most pressing issue facing our school district is supporting our students, faculty and staff academically, socially and emotionally during hybrid learning. If elected, I will advocate for student, teacher and staff safety, support efforts to enhance distance learning, and provide virtual social outlets for our students. Distance learning is a monumental task for many families, including those of our teachers, to balance work and assisting with education.
What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board?
I am running against James Schulok, who is up for re-election. Until last year, it was common for members on the WMRHSD board to run unopposed.
I feel that there are several differences between myself and my opponent. I have a medical background that broadens my ability to evaluate proposals from a health perspective. I had three children in the district with a variety of interests and who took classes in varying academic levels from International Baccalaureate (IB) to studies level, the arts, cooking, computer science and special education. My children played soccer, field hockey, cross country, winter track and spring track. They were involved in theatre, choir, concert band, jazz band, marching band, Highlanders for Humanity, Unified and National Honor Society. When thinking about the collateral negative implications of a proposed new program on other programs, my experience allows me to take a more global perspective. In order to stay fiscally responsible, it is unreasonable to expect to add programs without cutting somewhere else.
I have been a part of the Washington Township community for almost 18 years. I believe the board should support the community as a whole and believe that solutions to our current challenges should be collaborative with the community. As a district, there has been an abundance of emphasis on improving rankings. The emphasis needs to be on providing an exceptional educational experience for all students, not just in becoming the only district in NJ to offer both the IB Diploma and Career programs. If implementing both programs was sustainable without other areas of the school suffering, I would think that there would be more districts offering both programs. If by implementing a globally exceptional educational program the rankings are improved, then that is an added bonus.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective on the school board?
My veterinary curriculum included training on herd immunity, prevention of disease transmission in large groups, and disinfection.
At work, I think outside the box every day. As we address the challenges posed by this pandemic, novel solutions will be critical to our success. I am also accustomed to working in a collaborative environment, which is essential for a productive school board.
I was a Room Mom multiple years for my youngest son and volunteered to be an assistant coach for recreational soccer and soft ball when my children were younger. My daughter was involved with Girl Scouts for many years as well. I am a member of St. Mark the Evangelist Church. Through these activities, I have interacted with local parents and members of the community.
Recovering from COVID-19 is going to put a significant financial strain on the schools. With so much of our tax dollars going to support them. But cuts will still be needed. Where do you see room for budget improvement? What things will you go to the mat to defend?
I attended a regional high school. In an attempt to prevent cuts, I would look to maximize the regional model and consolidate or share resources and evaluate the feasibility of collaborating with parental volunteers to reduce costs.
I would go to the mat to defend the arts and extra-curricular activities because the students need an outlet and some sense of normalcy. I would look at programs to see cost per student, revenue generated and number of students who participate. Before cutting a program, I would advocate for considering sharing a program between both high schools. There has been a 52% increase in suicides in Morris County compared to last year, so student well-being is of utmost importance.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put into focus the issue of mandatory vaccinations. If such a movement gains traction, where do you stand on this issue for your community?
As a veterinarian and the mother of an autistic child, I believe in vaccination as a means to prevent or lessen the severity of disease. That being said, I would only support a vaccine that has underwent full safety and efficacy testing studies and has FDA approval. Of course, a parent’s decision to vaccinate should be made after consultation with a child’s pediatrician.
If a safe and effective FDA approved vaccine becomes available, I would personally like to see a vaccination requirement for school, unless a waiver is obtained from the student’s pediatrician. By making vaccination mandatory, this helps the school community achieve herd immunity and hopefully allow the schools to transition to full capacity. While I think the hybrid model is the best we can do right now, it is not best for our students in the long term. The sooner we can transition to all in person learning safely, the better.
Since the change to this year's election was announced by Murphy, there have been many questions about how the process will work. Below is some further reading on the Nov. 3 election process:
A primarily vote-by-mail election means a lot of changes to election day. See what you can expect this November.
Those not needing an ADA compliant booth will need a provisional ballot to vote in-person. Here is what that will look like.
There was language on the primary ballots asked voters certify they requested the ballot, even if they didn't.
Voters wondering how their signatures are checked before the upcoming election can see the process for themselves.
Need to register for the upcoming election? Want to track your vote once you do? Read on to learn how.
Here is a recap of important dates to remember with upcoming election, all in one place.
Confusion and concern has reigned as ballots arrive, here Patch got some answers from a county clerk.
Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com
Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.
This article originally appeared on the Long Valley Patch
