Meet the Marlboro Board of Ed Candidates

Residents gathered at Monday night to hear from seven candidates share their reasons for running and outline their goals.

Candidates had two minutes for opening remarks, then answered three pre-determined questions, audience questions and closing statements.

Each board member elected will serve a three-year term.

John Dwyer said he has been in Marlboro for 15 years, and has two children at . Dwyer's wife worked for the Marlboro Educational Foundation, and Dwyer said he waited until she no longer worked in the district to run for the board.

Dwyer worked for 25 years on Wall Street, and has co-owned his own business for the last 9 years.

"I have the skill set to be an asset to the board," he said. "With my background, I firmly believe I would be a solid candidate for the Board of Education.

Dwyer said his years as a Senior Director will benefit him on the board, as he was responsible for preparing budgets that "rival Marlboro's 2012 school budget."

Dwyer said he believes the most urgent issue facing Marlboro's district is implementing the in a "fiscally responsible manner."

Moving into a new curriculum while keeping up with technological advances and keeping an eye on continuing changes in state aid, Dwyer said, are all things the board needs to be focused on when looking at a budget.

"Teacher training and newer technology are never one-shot deals," he said.

Dwyer said when making decisions on the board, any member needs to look at all variables.

Dwyer also said he would have moved the school board election to November, a decision that . Moving the election would have saved the district $50,000, but eliminated the public vote on the school budget.

"I think the money would be better spent on the kids," Dwyer said, adding that if people want to keep the vote, they should show up to the polls.

Paula Fasciano is a current board member coming to the end of her first term. She has been in Marlboro for over 15 years ad has two children, one of whom is special needs. She serves as chair of the technology committee, participates on the shared services committee and anti-bullying steering committee, is a liaison to the Marlboro Educational Foundation, and Monmouth County School Boards Association. She has served on the technology committee, Safe Schools Task Force, and as liaison to municipal government, PTA/PTO/SCOPE presidents' council, and the business administrator's office.

"The time, energy and drive required to serve on this board has been well worth the reward," Fasciano said.

Fasciano added that she is a hard-working, motivated and persistent board member who understands how the school district works and how the decisions of the district affect the taxpayer.

Statewide curriculum changes, including the 2014 shift to bring standardized testing to the digital age, are things the board needs to be aware of financially and logistically according to Fasciano.

Fasciano also said the board needs to concentrate on revenue and the unpredictable nature of state funding.

"We need to look at the whole picture, not the sum of the parts," Fasciano said.

Fasciano said she did not vote to move the school election to November, in order to preserve the taxpayer's right to have a say, and understand the ramifications before committing to a 4-year November election.

Barry Hochberg was a computer consultant who now manages a national chain retail store. He is the president of the Freehold Jewish Center, and had three children go through the Marlboro district. Hochberg is a former member of the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education.

"I was never afraid to be the only 'no' vote on contract negotiations," Hochberg said, adding the ultimate goal of the board should be to move the district forward responsibly.

Hochberg said teamwork is key when working on a board of any kind, as is openness to all sides of the argument. This includes arguments revolving what Hochberg deemed important issues, such as curriculum changes, teacher evaluation policies, the evolution of school funding moving away from the taxpayer and overall economic success.

Hochberg said he would have voted to move the school board elections to November if it didn't mean eliminating the budget vote.

"The majority of property taxes goes towards the school district, and 2% or not, the public needs to voice an opinion on that issue."

Jian Kao has lived in Marlboro for 12 years, and works as an assistant engineer. Kao is the founder and former principal of the in Marlboro. She is also the former principal of the HuaXia network, which has 19 branches.

"We focus on the foundation of education," Kao said. "Many of our students become high academic performers."

Kao said her background in engineering will help her make decisions as a board member regarding expensive technology, and her experience as an educator will help her bring new ideas and approaches to an "already high achieving district."

"I have the experience of opening a school with a limited budget," Kao said. "Marlboro has a good educational system, but it can be better."

Kao said the district needs to continue to make long-term decisions, improve teacher accountability, and couple academic skills with social skills for children.

Kao also said that while introducing children to new social skills and advanced technology is important, so is monitoring things like social media, where she said bullying is too much of a problem.

Debbie Despina Mattos has two sons in elementary school. She has coached baseball, and currently coaches soccer in town. Mattos also teaches Sunday school, and is currently an adviser for a jewelry company.

"I am very passionate about this district," Mattos said. "I would like to have the opportunity and honor of representing you."

Mattos said leadership and strategic planning are strengths of hers, as well as being a fiscally responsible business woman and a communicator.

"I live and breathe the decisions of this district daily," Mattos said.

Among the important issues facing the district, Mattos said the way the board deals with changes in state curriculum is at the top. With that comes continuing to allocate money for technology and resources which support the core initiative.

Mattos believes continued transparency on the board is key to maintaining a good relationship with the community, and she said that includes leaving the budget vote to the public.

"Transparency is key in this."

BonnieSue Rosenwald has been a board member in Marlboro for 9 years, and was previously a member of the Freehold Regional High School District board. She has been a resident of Marlboro for 30 years and had two children go through the district. She holds a NJSBA master board member certification and now a certified board leader, and currently serves as the chair of the shared services committee, and participates in the construction committee and Safe Schools Task Force. Rosenwald served as a delegate to the New Jersey School Boards Association, chair of the Safe Schools Task Force and visitor management system committees, and as a liaison to the business administrator's office.

Rosenwald said she is proud to be on a board that has had consistent budgets without raising taxes for the last several years.

"Through hard work, the board approved a zero tax increase for the past two years," she said.

Rosenwald said she has helped bring transparency to the board, through putting videos of meetings online. Rosenwald also said she brought a "," which lowered legal fees, and revenue projects to the district.

"In a rapidly changing world of education, we must be a leader," she said.

Rosenwald said that her first thought as a board member is for the student, and the next is for the taxpayer.

"I have always fought for the taxpayer, publicly and privately."

The job of the entire board, Rosenwald said, is to provide the highest quality education possible. She wishes to bring in the community voice more, and continue to examine the budget closely.

Rosenwald did vote to move the election to November, saying the bottom line is it would save the taxpayers money and eliminate an election only about 3,000 people attend.

"That $50,000 would have bought every first grader an iReader," she said.

Vincent Valinoti has been a police officer for 22 years at Port Authority. He has three children in the district, from elementary school to high school. He volunteers at in Marlboro as both a teacher and security.

"The reason I'm here is because of them," he said.

Valinoti said he is passionate about being involved in the district and in the education of his daughters. He said his main goal is to listen to all sides of an issue, and to keep an eye on the budget as the state curriculum changes.

"I want us all to participate," Valinoti said, adding that the board needs to keep in mind what is best for students.

The last day to register to vote for the election Tuesday, March 27. Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on April 17. Information about voter registration can be found on the district website.

The Marlboro Township Board of Education , a move allowed by a new permissive state law. This means the April election ballot will also include a vote on the district budget.