Cinnaminson School Board Election 2024: Laura Fitzwater

CINNAMINSON, NJ — Election season for the Cinnaminson Board of Education is underway.

Patch sent questions to all candidates in the race and will publish responses as they're received. All candidate profiles will be re-shared closer to Election Day, which is Nov. 5.

• Related: Cinnaminson 2024 Elections: Candidates, Voter Info

Laura Fitzwater, a school board candidate, sent Patch the following responses:

Laura Fitzwater

• Age: 63
• Education: Master’s Degree in English, Bachelor’s and Associate’s degrees in Business
• Occupation: Adjunct English Professor
• Campaign Website: Re-Elect Fitzwater, Evans, and Topps Cinnaminson BOE 2024
• Previous elected/appointed office: Cinnaminson Board of Education (current member)

What drove you to seek public office?

I was asked to run for the board by a former member back in 2012. Because I wanted to be more active in my children’s education, I decided to run. This is the only public office I have run for and the only one I will run for.

What sets you apart from the rest of the candidates?

My 12 years of experience and 7 years as board president set me apart from other candidates. I have seen a lot of changes in the district that have improved student success. Additionally, being an educator gives me a unique perspective for engaging with other board members, the staff, and the public.

What's the biggest issue facing Cinnaminson schools, and how would you address it?

The biggest issue right now is educational space. We have grown exponentially in the past 8 years, and we are outgrowing our elementary schools. To address it, we have purchased a total of six learning cottages; three for each of the two elementary schools. We continue to look at additional options, and we allow our school administrators the creativity and input they need to use their space wisely.

With New Jersey's school-funding formula (S-2) ending after this fiscal year, it's unknown how much each school district’s state aid will fluctuate thereafter. If Cinnaminson sees a significant decrease in aid, how should the district maintain its standard of education without overburdening local taxpayers?

Because our enrollment continues to grow, Cinnaminson will likely not see a decrease in funding, although we may not receive more funding than last year. If we were to receive less funding, our Business Administrator would go line by line through the budget and examine what we could cut. We would take her lead and advice, but also ask questions to ensure we continue the education in our schools that has made us the 4th best school system in Burlington County.

What's your favorite thing about the Cinnaminson school system?

My favorite thing about the school district is our sense of camaraderie. We are all pirates, from pre-k to high school, and from students, to aids, to drivers, to maintenance, to faculty, and of course to the board of education. Go pirates!