See where candidates for the Ramapo Indian Hills school board stand
OAKLAND — Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School Board of Education in the Nov. 7 elections.
The district's two high schools serve students in Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff.
Oakland and Wyckoff seats will be up for election, but neither of the two seats that represent Franklin Lakes is up for election in November.
Oakland school board seats
In Oakland, two three-year seats are open. Incumbent Vivian King is seeking her second three-year term along with newcomer Amy Eilert on the "United For Students" slate against challengers Audrey Lynn Souders and Melissa Kiel. Incumbent board President Judith Sullivan is not seeking a new term.
Candidate: Amy Eilert
Eilert is 49 and teaches music. She has lived in Oakland for 10 years and is a graduate of Indian Hills High School, as are her husband and two sons. She holds a bachelor's degree from William Paterson University. She is also involved with the Dog Park Committee, Oakland Communications Commission and Oakland Arts Committee and is a FLOW Follies pianist.
Curriculum concerns? The curriculum approval process is transparent, thorough and data-driven, and should ensure that politics do not interfere.
What has caused the student registration imbalance between Ramapo and Indian Hills? The decline in the overall high school student population is a demographic facing all high schools.
How can this imbalance be fixed? I will support the continuation of the proposed demographic study and committee to do a proper data-driven analysis of the options for Ramapo Indian Hills.
Why are you running? I am running for the Ramapo Indian Hills board to restore the reputation of our district by focusing on our students’ academic achievement and mental wellness as well as fiscal responsibility and productive collaboration with parents and community members.
For more on Eilert's candidacy: Website: unitedforstudents.org; Facebook: United4RIHStudents.
Candidate: Melissa Kiel
Kiel declined to answer questions from The Record and NorthJersey.com. For more information on Kiel's candidacy: Facebook: MelissaKiel4RIHBOE.
Candidate: Vivian King
King is 51, has lived in the borough for 19 years and works as a retail professional. She is a graduate of Ramapo High School, where one of her children is a student. Two other children have graduated from Indian Hills High School. King holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University. Other community involvements include eight years on the Oakland Recreation Commission, five years on the Oakland zoning board and two years as an Indian Hills Hockey Parents board member.
Curriculum concerns? While I firmly support parents' rights to be informed and make choices for their own children, I am in favor of an inclusive curriculum, written by educators (not parents), that offers all students a comprehensive education.
What has led to the student registration imbalance between Ramapo and Indian Hills? Students are allowed to choose between the two high schools, and the factors most cited for student choice of one school over the other are where friends are going, sports and specialized academic programs.
How can this be fixed? Following the Strategic Plan recommendations to form a special task force in the coming year to examine the root causes of the issue and work to identify solutions is the first step.
Why are you running? I love Oakland, I believe in public schools, I support our teachers and administration, I am a straight shooter who asks important questions and is not afraid to speak up for what is right, and I balance fiscal responsibility with maintaining and improving our excellent school district.
For more on King's candidacy: Website: unitedforstudents.org; Facebook: United4RIHStudents.
Candidate: Audrey Lynn Souders
Souders is 54, has lived in the borough for 20 years and works as a certified clinical perfusionist with a bachelor's degree in nursing. Her two children are students at Indian Hills High School. She was a founding member of Access For All, providing access to townwide events for the special needs community, volunteers with the Healing the Children Guatemala Heart Surgery Team and is a vestry member of St. Alban's Episcopal Church.
Souders declined to answer questions from The Record and NorthJersey.com. For more information on Souders' candidacy: Facebook: #audreysouders4rihboe.
Wyckoff school board seats
In Wyckoff, one three-year seat is open. Incumbent Brian DeLaite was appointed to his seat in November 2022 and is seeking his first full term. He is running against newcomer Jared Geist.
Candidate: Brian DeLaite
DeLaite is 55, a 12-year resident of the township and a sales and marketing executive. He has two children in Wyckoff's grade schools. He holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing and communications from Babson College. He is a volunteer recreation sports coach and volunteers with grade school PTOs.
Curriculum concerns? We must remain hyper-focused on constantly evolving the curriculum to ensure that our students are best prepared to succeed and meet the challenges of the ever-changing post-high school world that they will be entering upon graduation.
What has led to the student registration imbalance between Ramapo and Indian Hills? The imbalance roughly aligns with the population of Oakland at Indian Hills versus the combined populations of Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes, which skews far more toward Ramapo.
How can this be fixed? While they are in the decision-making process during middle school, we need to offer unique and compelling curriculum at Indian Hills and also showcase the unique value proposition that an Indian Hills High School experience has to offer our students.
Why are you running? With two children that still have high school on the horizon, I have a vested interest to ensure that the schools in our district provide the very best high school learning experience for them and every other student in the community.
For more on DeLaite's candidacy: Website: rihstudentsfirst.com; Facebook: RIHstudentsfirst.
Candidate: Jared Geist
Geist is 41 and has lived in the township for five years. He is an attorney with three children in Wyckoff preschool and grade school. He holds bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from Central Michigan University and his juris doctor from Michigan State University. Community involvement includes rec coaching and den leader with Wyckoff Cub Scout Pack 110. He previously served as a Dumont councilman, a member of the Dumont Joint Land Use Board, and a Bogota municipal judge and prosecutor.
Curriculum concerns? I watched the last curriculum presentation and my goal is to support the passion and dedication of our teachers while addressing the community's concerns for a non-biased and non-political traditional curriculum.
What has led to the student registration imbalance between Ramapo and Indian Hills? The numbers are very concerning and should be one of the district's top priorities. I plan to make it one of mine.
How can this be fixed? The incoming administration must have the resources to understand, research and review the cultural and social differences of each school, conduct focus groups with students, teachers and the community, and have any other resources to correct the imbalance.
Why are you running? I am running to bring back the tradition of excellence of Ramapo Indian Hills School District by prioritizing our students' education through high-quality traditional academics and protecting the fundamental rights of parents.
For more on Geist's candidacy: Facebook: JaredGeist4RIHBOE, and YouTube.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Where candidates for Ramapo Indian Hills NJ school board stand
