Hoboken School Board Candidate Profiles: Tom Kluepfel

HOBOKEN, NJ — Four candidates are running for three school board slots in Hoboken on Nov. 5. The Board of Education has nine members in total.

(NOTE: If you have a letter or release related to local issues that you'd like to post on Patch, you can do it for free any time. Here are the instructions.)

You can choose any three candidates. 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 more Hoboken news here.

Here is Tom Kluepfel's profile.

Name:
Tom Kluepfel

Age:
68 as I type this; 69 by election day

Occupation:
Graphic Design, Creative Director (Retired)

Past volunteer jobs and any government service:
Co-founder and inaugural board president, Elysian Charter School;
Hoboken Board of Education (12 years)

Do you have any relatives working in town government or the schools now, or volunteering on town boards?
My wife is a special education teacher at Elysian Charter School.

How long have you lived in town, and where did you grow up?
I was born in Brooklyn, raised mostly in the Midwest and finally returned to NYC for college. Lynn and I moved to Hoboken the day after we were married 44 years ago.

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

Steadily Increasing enrollment over the past several years has created a strain on Hoboken’s aging school buildings and the need first for additional space is critical. Although the 2022 referendum to construct a new school failed, that need remains. Adequate public education facilities should be high among the community's priorities. However, a majority of the town’s population may not be tuned into what’s happening in the public schools. (I was once that way myself before we had kids) The board must better engage this broader public in order engender community pride. Everyone should have a stake in the success of their school district and its students.

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?

In my time on the board, we’ve endeavored to rid the board of the divisiveness that once hampered district stability and success. This stability, I believe, creates growing public trust in the board and respect for its district goals. Shared goals is inclusive, not divisive.

4. 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?

I was first sworn in as a board member in 2013 and joined a board that, for many years, had been divided and contentious. Back then, people joked that school board meetings — often long and rowdy — were the best entertainment in town. I am proud to have played a part in the board conducting its business in a more professional manner and bringing much needed credibility and stability. And this has led to what the community most wanted: significant improvement in the district’s academic program and student success. That success is evident in rising test scores and graduation rates, dynamic and unique programs for all students, and increasing enrollment.

5. To what 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?

This is an unexpected question for a non-partisan School Board election; one’s political affiliation plays no part in one’s role as a board member. Nevertheless, I am a registered Democrat for as long as I can remember and voted for Joe Biden in 2020.

6. 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?

The district has recently been offering activities and events that are open to all families and students. They help to build a stronger community.

7. 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?

One of the principles behind the original charter school movement was school choice in public education. That’s important. I want the district to be every family's first choice for education by virtue of its excellent academic program and high student achievement. That’s not inappropriate.

8. What else should the voters know?

I’m running on a slate with fellow incumbents Ailene McGuirk and Malani Cademartori for good reason. We’ve worked together on the board for six years in countless board, committee and community meetings. I know their commitment to the district and to our Hoboken community is as unwavering as my own.

Other Information

• You can submit your ballot any time through 8 p.m. on Election Day.
• 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.

Got a letter, press release, or event to post on Patch? You can do it for free. Just follow these instructions.

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

See the timeline for the general election here.