East Brunswick Board Of Education General Election 2025: Jeffrey Winston

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – Last year, Jeffrey Winston resigned from his seat on the East Brunswick Board of Education.

According to Winston, he was unhappy with the way the BOE was operating as it was “not helpful to the district or to the families.”

But this November, Winston has thrown his hat in the ring. He is running for the one-year-unexpired term seat, which is on the ballot due to the resignation of Laurie Lachs.

In a conversation with Patch, Winston talks about his platform and what he hopes to achieve once elected to the BOE.

Patch sent out a questionnaire to all candidates seeking a seat on the BOE. The profiles will be published as received.

Are you running for office in East Brunswick? Contact Sarah Salvadore at sarah.salvadore@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements.

Jeffrey Winston

Age: 63

Town of residence: East Brunswick

Family: Wife (Dana) and 5 Children

Education: BA, College of NJ

Occupation: Financial Consultant

Previous or current elected or appointed office: Board of Education

Why are you seeking a seat on the BOE?

Back in February 2024, I stepped down from the East Brunswick Board of Education because the way the board was operating just wasn’t helping our district move forward. At that time, a small group of five individuals held the majority and controlled the direction of the board. The overall attitude of the board back then was not helpful to the district or to the families we serve.

After resigning, I helped organize a community group called Take Back EB Schools, which later became East Brunswick Action. Together we worked hard to bring about real change, and last year three new members were elected to the Board of Education. No incumbents won re-election. Since then, the former board president has resigned, and the superintendent will step down this December. Many in our community believe these changes came from the pressure and persistence of those who wanted something better for our schools.

Now I’m running for the one-year seat to fill the vacancy left by a resigned member. My goal is to help rebuild a positive, student-focused culture and steer the district back in the right direction.

East Brunswick has always been a strong community that values its schools. With your support, I hope to help make sure our district reflects that strength again.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

What sets me apart from the other candidates running for the one-year seat are a few key things that I believe are vital right now. First, I bring nearly 30 years of financial consulting and analysis experience. That background gives me the ability to understand budgets, identify inefficiencies, and make smart, sustainable decisions that benefit our schools and taxpayers.

I also have the advantage of historical knowledge, having previously served on the Board of Education. I understand how the system works from the inside, what has gone wrong, and what can be fixed. Along with that, my education and professional development have given me the skills that directly apply to what our district needs today.

Right now, our district is headed in the wrong direction. I truly believe we are on a 24-month clock where, if things do not change, we could see serious consequences that affect everything from the quality of education to our property values. We don’t have the luxury of time to figure things out as we go. We need leadership that already knows what to do and how to do it.

I have developed a 20-point platform that focuses on the most urgent issues facing our schools. These priorities are clear, actionable, and designed to get results. With the right focus and teamwork, I believe we can turn things around and restore confidence in our district.

What, according to you, is the biggest issue facing the school district?

There are three major issues facing our district right now, and they all need real attention.

• First, teacher morale is at an all-time low. Over the past six years, and especially in the last year, I’ve heard from many of our educators who feel discouraged and undervalued by the administration. We’ve lost some of our best and most experienced teachers because of it. When teachers don’t feel supported, students are the ones who suffer most.
• Second, we are struggling with serious curriculum concerns. The rollout of the new math program was unsuccessful, and there are ongoing questions about the literacy programs and how effective they really are. Teachers were not given the support or resources they needed to properly implement these new curriculums, and that has made it harder for students to succeed.
• Third, we must address the issues within our special needs community. More than 20 percent of our students require some level of special education support. Right now, too many decisions are being made based on budget rather than on what a child truly needs. Parents are becoming frustrated and, far too often, are forced to seek legal help just to secure the services their children deserve.

These are serious problems, but they can be fixed. With the right leadership, we can restore trust, support our teachers, improve our programs, and ensure every student—regardless of need—has the opportunity to succeed.

Are you happy with the way the district has handled state aid cuts and budget issues? What would be your approach?

The way our district has handled the budget has been haphazard at best. It’s no secret, and it shouldn’t have been a surprise, that the budget would come under pressure over the past two years. Unfortunately, very little planning has been done between budget cycles to prepare for what’s next.

Our district operates on about $205 million, which is more than some of our neighboring districts. Yet, those districts are getting better academic results. Too often when the budget comes up, the response is, “It’s not our fault.” That’s not how you manage a $205 million operation. We need accountability and a serious look at how we’re spending taxpayer money.

It’s time to take a top-down look at how the district is being run. Do we have too much administrative staff and support? Are we directing dollars to the right places? For example, do we really need a separate middle school sports program when the township already offers strong and well-established recreational programs for that same age group?

There are also other examples of questionable spending. Most recently, the township approved an $11.2 million loan to the district for items that many believe were not top priorities. While it’s understandable that roofs and repairs are important, spending tens of thousands of dollars to remove athletic equipment during a budget crunch doesn’t make sense.

Meanwhile, teachers have been leaving over the past two years because of budget shortfalls. We need to do better with our finances so we can keep great educators in our schools, maintain strong programs, and protect the integrity of our district. Smart financial management is the foundation for everything else we want to achieve.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the school district?

With a new superintendent coming in, we have an important opportunity to reset how our district operates. Here are some of the key areas we need to focus on right away:

1. Define the superintendent–board relationship. The superintendent should have a clear list of priorities with specific timelines for completion. Regular progress reports should be shared so everyone knows where things stand.
2. Set clear goals. Every action the district takes should have a defined purpose and benefit. If we can’t say who it helps, we shouldn’t be doing it.
3. Plan ahead for budget challenges. We need to anticipate shortfalls before they happen and explore shared services to reduce costs wherever possible.
4. Redistrict smartly. Redistricting is not only the right thing to do for our community, but it can also save money by reducing unnecessary busing across town.
5. Improve communication. The district needs to do a much better job of communicating with parents, teachers, and the broader community so that everyone feels informed and included.
6. Address workplace culture. We must end the hostile work environments that exist in too many of our schools. Our teachers and staff deserve respect and support.
7. Decide on the high school. We need to finally make a decision on whether to build a new high school or renovate the current one. The temporary trailers at Churchill for seventh graders are unacceptable and should not continue into a fifth year.
8. Include the PTA in budget planning. The PTA does tremendous work and often picks up costs the district should have planned for. They deserve a seat at the table during budget discussions so we can work together from the start.

What, according to you, is the one thing the district has been most successful in doing this past year?

One of the best things to happen to our district this year was the resignation of the superintendent. Over the past 10 years, it’s become clear that our district was heading in the wrong direction, and that momentum wasn’t going to stop without real change.

This was a necessary step if we want to turn things around. There may still be other changes needed at the higher administrative levels to make sure our district can truly succeed, but replacing the superintendent was the right place to start.

I’m hopeful that the new superintendent will bring fresh ideas, accountability, and a renewed focus on what matters most — our students, our teachers, and the long-term success of East Brunswick schools.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

What sets me apart from the other candidates running for the one-year position comes down to experience, perspective, and commitment.

First and foremost, I have a deep understanding of both the Board of Education and the district itself. Having raised five children who all went through East Brunswick schools, including my twins who just graduated, I’ve seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t. I’ve listened to parents, teachers, and students over the years and truly understand the challenges we face.

My five and a half years of service on the board gave me valuable insight into how things operate and, more importantly, what needs to change. My goals are clear: to address the issues we’ve discussed and begin making the real repairs our district needs.

My educational background and nearly three decades of financial experience will be a true asset as we work to stabilize and strengthen our schools. I believe my knowledge, experience, and dedication make me the most qualified person to serve in this one-year role and help guide East Brunswick schools back in the right direction.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?

My slate mate, Neal Shah, and I have created a 20-point platform that focuses on the most important needs of our district and offers practical solutions to address them.

If we’re elected, we plan to share this plan with the new superintendent on day one for her review and consideration. We believe this is the kind of proactive, solution-based approach our schools need right now. You can read our full platform here: https://scanned.page/ELw83p