Mohan and Lefkowitz Ideal Candidates for Bernards Township BOE

I am writing to offer my wholehearted endorsement of Smrithi Mohan and Adam Lefkowitz for Bernards Township Board of Education.

I have been following Board of Education meetings for many years. The Bernards Township schools are consistently ranked high and are a major reason many people move here. The great reputation of the schools keeps property values high even for those who no longer have children in the schools. That said, like most school districts, we are facing unprecedented challenges from higher costs; in our district, the biggest drivers have been rising health care and energy costs.

We absolutely need board members who will be able to listen to all constituents, review and synthesize information, and come up with thoughtful and creative solutions to our challenges. With all the political divisiveness in our country, we also need people who will keep the board non-partisan and remain focused on our biggest challenges, not on culture-war issues. And who will listen to and communicate honestly and in a transparent manner with all stakeholders.

Now more than ever we need to teach our young people to be good citizens, offering them solid foundations in reading, math and science, while supporting the non-academic outlets for our students, like our fantastic music, arts, and sports programs. We need board members who will trust our teachers and staff and spend board time focusing on long-term planning so Bernards Township can continue to offer top ranked schools even with our continued budgetary pressures.

Smrithi, who grew up in the Bernards Township school district and chose to raise her family here, is an attorney with expertise in board governance. She has been involved in strategic planning, developing policy, and overseeing finances. Adam, also a parent in the district, is an attorney with deep experience in local government regulations and contract negotiations, significant assets for a board member. In addition to having a vested interest in the success of our schools due to their young children, both candidates are respectful communicators and collaborative leaders. They would be a tremendous asset to the Bernards Township School District.