Robert Smorol: Clark School Board Candidate

CLARK, NJ — The Clark Township School Board has seven candidates vying for three seats in the upcoming election on Nov. 2.

Incumbent Robert Smorol is one of the candidates running for re-election. The other candidates include:

• Kristen Hickman
• Scott Bohm - incumbent
• Dino Bencivenga - incumbent
• Corey McGuire (Stand For Students)
• Erik Jacobsen (Stand For Students)
• Diana Caamano Gonzalez (Stand For Students)

All of the candidates are running for the three, three-year seats on the board.

Are you running for office in Clark? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Clark-Garwood Patch.

Robert Smorol

Name: Robert Smorol

Age: 62

Town of residence: Clark NJ (52 years)

Position sought: Clark NJ Board of Education

Family: Donna Smorol (wife)/ Robert Smorol III (son)/ Michelle Favatella (daughter)/ Anthony Favatella (Grandson).

Education: Montclair State University - BA in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting / Fairleigh Dickinson University – Masters in Business Administration.

Occupation: Senior Vice President/Chief Auditor PVH Corp.

Previous or current elected appointed office: Clark Board of Education (Chair of the Finance Committee/Athletics Committee Member/Union Negotiations Team Leader/Buildings & Grounds Committee Member

Why are you seeking to run for school board? My decision to run for the school Board is based on my love for the town Clark (where I have resided for 52 years), its schools, and my desire to give back to the community. I believe that my combination of experience and skills allow me to be a positive contributor to the Clark Board of Education. I intentionally waited until after my two children graduated from the Clark School District to ensure my decisions as a Board member would be exempt of any personal interest.

What is your stance on masks in schools? Masks should be optional; however, we must adhere to the Governor’s mandate, as this is the law.

Should schools offer a virtual option? In-person class training should be the #1 priority for the School District; however, the virtual option should be considered when circumstances dictate that it is necessary. This should be determined by the School District.

What other issues do you feel must be tackled in the school district? Of top priority right now is ensuring that the District’s students have not fallen behind academically due to the COVID–19 Pandemic. It is imperative that additional education programs (e.g., before and after school tutoring, summer class sessions) be implemented and offered to those students in need of catch up in English, Math and Science.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates? The fact that my two children and I have all gone through the Clark School System, and both of my children are currently teachers, provides me with in-depth knowledge and experience of the challenges facing today’s students in the District. In addition, my work experience as the Senior Vice President/Chief Auditor at PVH Corp.(where I have worked for the last 29 years) has allowed me to excel as the Chair of the Board’s Finance Committee. A point worth noting is that the Clark School District has never been stronger financially than it is today, as we have successfully completed numerous academic, athletic, arts and school facility initiatives. My experience and skills have enabled me to strike the right balance between maintaining a high-quality school district and the cost associated with doing so. I bring integrity and sound judgment to my position on the Board without any personal agenda, which I have demonstrated over my last nine years as a Board member. I am extremely proud of what my fellow Board members and I have accomplished during this time.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign? It’s important that the community of Clark understand that anyone serving on the Clark Board of Education should have the ability to listen to parents, students and teachers, work effectively with the other Board members, be fair and balanced, ensure the best interests of the School District are always met, and not be afraid to make difficult decisions when necessary. I believe I possess all of these attributes and have demonstrated them over my last nine years as a Board member.