Hoboken School Board Candidate Profiles: Ailene McGuirk

HOBOKEN, NJ — Four candidates are running for three school board slots in Hoboken. The Board of Education has nine members in total.

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The four candidates will be on the ballot along with the presidential candidates running in the Nov. 5 General Election.

You can choose any three.

School board races in Hoboken are non-partisan.

The following candidates are running:

• Patricia Waiters, under the slogan "Support All Children."
• Incumbents Malani Cademartori, Ailene McGuirk, and Thomas Kluepfel using the slogan "Building Futures Together."

McGuirk is the current board president. See the incumbents and find out more about the board here.

See Hudson County school election information here.

We asked all four candidates various questions and are publishing the three that we received back.You can find the other profiles and local news here.

Here is Ailene McGuirk's profile.

Name:

Ailene McGuirk

Age:

48

Education:

BA Villanova University, MBA Montclair State University

Occupation:

Sales Executive for Biopharmaceutical Company

Past volunteer jobs and any government service:

Currently serving in my second term on the Hoboken Board of Education, and this year I serve as Board President. I have served as a Girl Scout troop leader here in town since 2017, and was the Co-Chair of the Connors PTO from 2017-2019.

Other experience relevant to the position:

I have a large extended Irish American family. The importance of making a logical argument, listening to the perspectives of others, and coming to a compromise are taught at a very early age.

Do you have any relatives working in town government or the schools now, or volunteering on town boards?

I do not.

How long have you lived in town, and where did you grow up?

I moved to Hoboken in December of 1999. I was born in Brooklyn, and grew up in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey. My husband Matt and I live in SW Hoboken with our two daughters.

1. What do you think are the most important issues facing your district, and what will you do to address them?

Hoboken is a growing city and has earned a reputation as a family friendly destination. We are thrilled that the enrollment of the Hoboken Public School District has grown by leaps and bounds over the last ten years. As our population continues to grow, additional updated classroom space is a necessity.

Three of our five school buildings are over 100 years old. These buildings are well maintained, but upkeep of these artifacts is costly. Renovating and growing our facilities to meet the needs of our students and staff is a major priority. Building broad community support for facilities improvements while keeping a strong focus on academic achievement is critical.

2. Should you win, how would you get people more involved in the issues who either aren't involved, or who supported your critics? How can town politics become more inclusive instead of divisive?

I personally maintain a positive relationship with many folks in town who have very different opinions from me. We can make Hoboken a more inclusive place by taking the time to listen to each other. As a parent of two daughters enrolled in the district (3rd and 7th grades) I spend a lot of time sharing what the school experience is like to Hoboken residents who don’t have strong connections to our schools. Often I find that many opinions about the school district reflect a reality from many years ago. School districts, like cities, are dynamic. What was true 15 years ago is a very different reality today. My commitment has always been to engage with anyone who is willing to talk, and I am confident that even my harshest critics would agree that I am open to sharing ideas.

3. If you're an incumbent, what are some of your proudest achievements? If not, what has your involvement been in the schools in the past?

The academic achievements of the students throughout the District and the growing enrollment both stand out to me. Our students now score above the state average in math and ELA, and the district is leading the county in academic results. Participation in our gifted & talented program has grown, and a tremendous amount of time and effort has gone into training teachers in multisensory reading instruction. The focus and commitment of our teachers and administrators is truly inspiring. Teachers are literally building the future.

Personally, I believe that the increase in academic achievement and growing enrollment are closely related. The school district delivers a quality education and that makes families more likely to enroll. Every time I hear about new families choosing the public school district it makes me proud.

4. To which political party do you belong? Who did you vote for in the last presidential election (if you're willing to say), and do you think it should matter in terms of your candidacy?

The Board of Education is a non-partisan position, and with good reason. All residents, Republicans, Democrats and Independents should want a strong local public school district. Hoboken is a better place because of our strong public schools.

My personal political views have no impact on my role as a trustee. I am a registered Democrat, and voted for Joe Biden in 2020. Since I vote by mail, I have already voted in this election cycle and proudly cast my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. I am beyond thrilled at the prospect of having a former teacher as Vice President.

5. Since many students in Hoboken attend charter schools or those outside of the regular district, do you think there should be more ways of getting students from different schools involved in activities together?

As a parent, I look to the city and the recreation department to accomplish this. I am hopeful that recreation can be enhanced in town, as we need more activities for all children. Recently I have been taking notice of the wonderful programs Bayonne offers, especially for students and young adults with special needs.

6. Do you think it's important or appropriate to try to draw some of those students from other schools and districts to the Hoboken Public School District?

As the top performing traditional kindergarten-12th grade school district in Hudson County, the Hoboken Public School District is the first choice of many families, and I am incredibly proud of that. Our community values having educational options, and there are many families who have left exclusive private schools to join the Hoboken Public School District, citing the robust academic offerings and strong sense of school community. That was not always the case and it is something that I believe speaks volumes about what is being offered here.

7. What else should the voters know?

I think it is very important for voters to know that the Board of Education takes its responsibility of providing a thorough and efficient education to the children of Hoboken very seriously. That informs every decision we make, and drives us to work productively as a whole for the good of the entire city. We strive daily to seek consensus and chart a way forward that serves the needs of all students in the school district while upholding our fiduciary duty to the taxpayers.

I am humbly asking voters to support me, along with my running mates, Malani Cademartori and Tom Kluepfel. If re-elected we will continue to make sound decisions for students and taxpayers. Please remember to vote either by mail, during early voting (10/26 - 11/3 at City Hall) or on Tuesday 11/5 from 6 AM - 8 PM. Thank you for taking the time to read my responses.

Other Information

Want to vote on the machine? Polls will be open a few before Election Day for early voting, and then on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. See the early voting hours here.

See the New Jersey voter information portal and election timelines here.

See the timeline for the general election here.