Seven people running for three spots in heated Sparta school board race

The Sparta Board of Education race may be scaled down from last year, when a whopping 17 candidates vied for six open seats.

But the district still features seven names on the ballot, tied for the most in the county, running for three available spots on the board this year.

The fiery campaign season has touched on a variety of issues in Sparta, from rising taxes to outdated school facilities to LGBTQ+ and sex ed debates that have dominated the conversation in many New Jersey communities. The conflicts have led to frequent turnover of board and staff members in recent years, along with heated meetings over district policy changes concerning transgender students and mature reading material.

The race includes two three-member teams: "Voices of Reason," featuring incumbent Christina Longo-Keiling, Dana Dumpert and Robert Meara, and "Stop Raising Taxes," comprised of Jennifer Grana, Kaitlin Gagnon and Chad Wood. LeeAnne Pitzer, the other incumbent, is running under the same "Students First" slogan that won her a one-year term in 2022.

All seven candidates, either individually or as a team, provided the New Jersey Herald with details on why they chose to run and what key issues they would focus on if elected.

Stop Raising Taxes

The "Stop Raising Taxes" team, as indicated by its slogan, is committed to addressing what it called the "reckless fiscal management" of the board, most notably the 5.8% tax increase in the district's most recent budget. The trio faulted the board's leadership for overseeing excessive spending on legal fees, hiring and firing issues, and other controversies.

"By focusing on the actual issues facing our Sparta district over dog-whistle political movements, we strive to redirect the Board’s focus to fund allocation, facilities, staff retention, and our declining district rankings," the team said.

Grana, a teacher and mother of four, is a former Sparta board member who ran as part of a six-member slate in last year's election. Gagnon, the other member of that team running again, is a marketing content writer and was recently appointed by the mayor to Sparta's Plan Endorsement Advisory Committee.

Wood is a 2023 graduate of Sparta High School who served as the board's student representative during his senior year. His experience, he said, helped demonstrate the need for "a younger voice at the table" in making future decisions for the district.

Voices of Reason

Dumpert, a mother of two children and stepmother to two more, left a corporate finance career to become a math teacher and supervisor. She hopes to draw from her expertise in both areas if elected to the board, promoting fiscal responsibility and communication among all members of the school community.

"I am committed to ensuring that the district operates efficiently, maximizing the value of every tax dollar spent without compromising the quality of our students' education," she said. "I aim to foster an environment of open dialogue, ensuring that all stakeholders have a say in decisions that impact them."

Meara also cited communication as one of his key issues to address, along with improving and modernizing school facilities and supporting teachers with proper resources for their roles.

"I believe in the power of education to change lives and build a stronger community," he said. "Having seen the challenges our schools face and the potential they hold, I want to play an active role in ensuring every child in Sparta receives the best education possible."

Longo-Keiling, the lone incumbent on the "Voices of Reason" team, is prioritizing health and safety standards, community collaboration and creating "tailored learning environments" for students of all backgrounds.

"I've proven my commitment by working collaboratively with various stakeholders in the community, and I intend to bring the same passion and drive in my next term," she said.

Students First

Pitzer, who has two children in Sparta schools, is the other sitting board candidate vying for re-election. She said she is running as an independent candidate to focus solely on the issues important to the district, "completely devoid of any personal, religious or political aspirations and agendas."

Pitzer's key issues to focus on include outdated school facilities — particularly overcrowding at Alpine Elementary School — along with proper budget management and improved communication and transparency. She highlighted her year of experience on the board, which provided her an up-close view of the district's challenges and how a board member can address them.

"I am able to make difficult decisions that I feel represent the best interests of the students of Sparta," Pitzer said. "I feel it is imperative that our district focuses on back to basics, fundamental education to prepare our students to be successful in their future endeavors."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sparta NJ school board election features seven candidates