Hoboken School Candidate Profiles: Want New Buildings? Support President On Education?

HOBOKEN, NJ — Seven people are running for three spots on Hoboken's school board this year. Five candidates responded to our Q&A. The first three were posted on Monday (see their answers here). The others are below.

Back in 2022, voters defeated a proposed new high school building 2-1. But many say the older buildings need work. READ MORE: Hoboken School Referendum Fails Amid Lopsided Results

The school elections are non-partisan, but local officials have highlighted impacts from federal actions, such as cuts to the Department of Education and recent layoffs of special education staff. Candidates were asked to answer how national politics might affect their role, and who they voted for last year.

While some candidates are on a slate, voters can choose any three.

(Have an opinion to share? Please do. For letters, releases, and events, you may also post them on your local Patch yourself for free using these instructions.)

The Hoboken Board of Education oversees the school budget and five regular district schools: Hoboken High School, Hoboken Middle School, and three elementary schools. The town's three charter schools are public but have separate school boards.

This year, the candidates for three open spots are:

• Leslie Norwood (incumbent)
• Antonio Graña (incumbent)
• Elizabeth "Lizy" Velez
• Russ Koyfman
• Laura Block
• Tim Smith
• Patricia Walters

Read the last profiles and Q&A below. (Prior three are here.)

School Board Candidate Profiles

Name: Elizabeth "Lizy" Velez

Age: 42

Length of time you've lived in Hoboken: I’ve lived in Hoboken for 12 years.

Public service in Hoboken: I'm a first-time candidate, but have been active in our district's Special Education Parent Advocacy Group (SEPAG) for years. As a native Spanish speaker, I was involved in the effort to reach out to Spanish-speaking families of children with special needs and believe that it is imperative that we continue to reach out to and involve all residents of Hoboken.

Family: I live with my husband, daughter, and our two dogs.

Do you have kids who attended or attend the Hoboken public schools? If you chose to send them elsewhere, why? My daughter attends Hoboken Middle School.

Do you have immediate family members working for local government? Who? None

Do you have a full-time job? If so, what is it? If not, how do you earn a living? I am a commercial litigator.

How many properties do you own in Hudson County, and where? We own our home in Hoboken.

Educational background: I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005 with a double major in PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) and Spanish, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2009. I am admitted to the bars of Florida, New York, New Jersey, and a number of federal courts.

Other experience: I worked in the Miami and New York offices of a large New York law firm, Weil Gotshal & Manges, for approximately six years before joining my current firm, a litigation boutique, where I am a partner.

Who are your running mates, if any? I am part of the Leadership that Delivers slate with incumbents Leslie Norwood and Antonio Graña. We are numbers 4F, 5F, and 6F on the ballot.

Website where voters can find more information: Please visit our page - https://www.leadershipthatdelivershoboken.com/.

Longer Questions:

1. Please tell us what makes you more qualified for the job than your opponents. My background provides me with two unique qualifications for the BOE. The first, my drive to provide the most supportive educational environment for each student in the district, stems from being the parent of a child with special needs. I have been a champion not only for my daughter, but for all children with learning differences in the district, and I appreciate that the strength of any school district is its ability to reach every child enrolled in its schools. The second, my ability to zealously advocate for a cause, stems from my professional role as a litigator. I bring to the BOE a background in analysis and research -- both of which will be invaluable as the district continues to confront space challenges in the coming years.

2. What is the biggest challenge facing Hoboken's schools, and how will you address it? The district's academic performance is at an all-time high, and last year's graduating class -- with HHS students who went on to a number of Ivy League and other high profile colleges-- is proof that our schools are competitive. We now need the facilities to match. Our student enrollment continues to grow at a rate of 5-7% per year; our elementary and middle schools are at capacity, and HHS is the fastest-growing school in the district. Additional space is an absolute necessity. The district has taken the first step by proposing a new long-term lease at 38 Jackson that will provide up to nine preschool classrooms and alleviate pressure on our elementary schools. The rest of the solution requires creative ideas for financing (including new Public Private Partnerships provided by new NJ law) and, most importantly, community feedback to avoid another failed referendum.

3. What is one creative idea you personally have for the school district that no one else has brought up yet? As an active member of SEPAG, I helped research and advocate for the concept of collaborative team teaching (CTT) in our district. CTT, an instructional approach whereby two teachers share the responsibility for instruction of a single classroom, is widely considered the gold standard for inclusive classrooms -- more so than the "push-in" model where a special education teacher assists a primary teacher in the instruction of a particular subject or class. CTT was ultimately implemented in a pilot program in the district as a result of our advocacy.

4. What is your overall impression of the job that the public schools are currently doing? The district is performing at impressive levels. From a long roster of successful HHS graduates, an award-winning theater program, and a challenging curriculum -- including the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth program -- the accolades for Hoboken public schools are well-deserved. As a district parent, I have experienced the performance of the district first-hand. More importantly, I have personally observed how the district has been willing to provide my daughter with the accommodations and supports she needs to access the district's offerings.

5. For whom did you vote in the 2024 presidential election? With proposed cuts to the Department of Education and various federal grants, do you see national politics affecting Hoboken's schools in the next few years? What do you think should be done about that, if so? I voted for Harriz/Walz in 2024. Their loss -- and Trump's subsequent proposal to eliminate the Department of Education, along with concerns that federal funds, including funds provided pursuant to the IDEA and to underprivileged children, would be cut -- sparked me to run for the BOE. Threats to funding affect everyone, including the Hoboken Public School District, and will require a careful assessment of the budget to confirm that it continues to provide sufficient services with streamlined funds.

5. Did you support the new $241M school facilities plan in 2022? What do you think should be done about the school's buildings and facilities? As a district parent, I understood in 2022 that more space would be necessary to accommodate the students in our district. I also saw that the referendum was about more than a new high school; it was part of a larger plan to increase space at every level, as it contemplated a reshuffling of the other schools that would solve overcrowding at each facility. Though I did not agree with the procedure -- particularly that no community feedback had been sought -- I voted in favor of the referendum. Today, the enrollment projections from 2022 are about to become a reality, and space continues to be an issue for the district. Whether through another referendum, Public Private Partnership, or otherwise, more space is a necessity, and a new plan obtained with community participation and feedback is required.

6. Do you believe all public school students should get free lunch? If so, how would you fund it? Universal free lunch would be a benefit to any district, and I personally believe that it is something that should be provided. I recognize, however, that trustees are stewards of limited funds, and decisions must be made regarding how best to utilize those funds. Nonetheless, the provision of free lunch to financially disadvantaged children -- primarily obtained through a combination of state-and federally-funded programs -- is non-negotiable.

7. Do you think the district should have some involvement in programs for all children in town, regardless of their school, such as the summer camp that exists now, or no? Do you think the district should allow Hoboken children who attend High Tech High, County Prep, or Hoboken Charter School to participate in Hoboken High sports? Space constraints affect not only instructional space, but the ability to accommodate participants in sports and other extracurricular activities. District sports and other programs would ideally be provided not just to children in the district, but to others, as well, but their availability is restricted. Where available, I applaud programs such as the YWCA camp, which is available to all children in Hoboken, regardless of their school.

8. Just for an offbeat question, do you believe the first snow day of the year should be done via remote learning, or a "traditional" day off? (Please note that "I'd leave it to the superintendent" is not an answer for this or the other questions, because we're looking for your personal opinion, not a future decision.) Growing up in Miami, I never experienced snow days until my time in college and law school -- and I only fully came to appreciate them when my daughter had snow days once she began school. While the decision of whether to give a "traditional" day off or have students engage in remote learning ultimately rests with the superintendent, I personally enjoy the concept of a traditional snow day to play in the snow!

Name: Antonio Graña

Length of time in Hoboken: Resident since 2002
Public service in Hoboken: Fifteen years of public service; currently running for re-election to a second term on the Hoboken Board of Education. I also serve on the New Jersey State School Board Association Legislative Assembly. I am currently appointed to the state SBA sub-committee on PILOT legislation which has a large impact on Hoboken schools.
Family: My wife and I have one daughter, a Hoboken public school student since Pre-K and currently a freshman at Hoboken High School
Employment: Private consultant; neither I nor my family members work in government
Residency: Primary residence in Hoboken since 2002
How many properties do you own in Hudson County, and where? [No answer]

Educational and professional background: Organizational leadership and change, information 7technology, and urban planning
Running mates: Leslie Norwood and Lizy Vélez – Leadership That Delivers
Campaign website: LeadershipThatDeliversHoboken.com

1. Please tell us what makes you more qualified for the job than your opponents.

Engagement matters. Experience matters. I bring over 15 years of public service to the people of Hoboken, in addition to my active community engagement. I have the knowledge, leadership, and skills that are critically relevant to this moment — sustaining the continued growth of our public schools. With deep experience in both public and private development, I hope to help lead the acquisition of facilities to ensure that each child in Hoboken has an appropriate learning environment as our district continues to grow.

2. What is the biggest challenge facing Hoboken’s schools, and how will you address it?

The biggest challenge facing Hoboken’s public schools is how to expand facilities fast enough to sustain our success. Student population growth has far outpaced overall city growth — roughly doubling in size over the last 15 years. This demand is driven by our strong statewide and national academic performance, by the increasing range of curricular and extracurricular offerings, and by Hoboken’s growing appeal as a community for families.

We’ve already taken steps to relieve pressure in our Pre-K and elementary schools through the lease of additional facilities. Over the next three to five years, the Board will need to evaluate multiple options for expansion — working with private developers to build and lease space, coordinating with the City to identify potential sites for new schools, exploring public-private partnerships, and reviewing possible property acquisitions.

3. What is one creative idea you personally have for the school district that no one else has brought up yet?

In terms of creativity and engagement, I’ve pushed for a broader communication approach — one that reaches both district parents and residents without children in the schools. I’ve also recognized that some of our challenges require action beyond Hoboken. I joined the New Jersey School Boards Association Legislative Assembly to better understand how the state legislative process shapes education policy, and I now serve on its state subcommittee on PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) legislation. This work matters because PILOTs can impact school funding, and Hoboken’s experience deserves to be reflected in statewide reform.

4. What is your overall impression of the job that the public schools are currently doing?

My family has always believed in public schooling as the foundation for both academic and life success. My confidence in Hoboken’s public schools has only grown — from our time in the preschools and elementary schools through middle and now high school. I cannot think of a better community in which to educate my daughter.

Since being elected to the Board of Education in 2022, I’ve chaired both the Facilities and Curriculum Committees and have become even more impressed by the leadership, vision, and dedication of our faculty and administration. My family feels fortunate to be part of this exceptional district.

5. For whom did you vote in the 2024 presidential election? With proposed cuts to the Department of Education and various federal grants, do you see national politics affecting Hoboken’s schools in the next few years? What do you think should be done about that, if so?

[Note: Graña declined to answer the first question, saying, "I do not comment publicly on personal voting choices."]

Most of Hoboken’s school funding comes from our local tax base, supplemented by state support. But I am concerned about proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Education. Those changes could weaken the national infrastructure that supports best practices, research, and federal grants for special education. Hoboken will continue to meet the needs of every student, but we’ll also advocate at every level to make sure the federal and state governments keep their commitments to children and families.

6. Did you support the new $241M school facilities plan in 2022? What do you think should be done about the school’s buildings and facilities?

I supported the 2022 high school facilities referendum as a private citizen before joining the Board. The data and demographic trends were clear then — and they’ve proven correct. Our schools are thriving, and the demand for them continues to grow. But one lesson from that experience is that we must do a better job explaining our needs and options clearly to the public. That lack of communication motivated me to run for the Board in the first place.

7. Do you believe all public school students should get free lunch? If so, how would you fund it?

Hoboken is fortunate to already provide free meals to students through state funding and National School Lunch Program. This ensures that every child has access to healthy meals during the school day is a basic part of supporting academic success. I would continue to advocate for full participation and for maintaining funding at both the state and federal level.

8. Do you think the district should have some involvement in programs for all children in town, regardless of their school, such as the summer camp that exists now, or no? Do you think the district should allow Hoboken children who attend High Tech High, County Prep, or Hoboken Charter School to participate in Hoboken High sports?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all Hoboken children could participate in the same programs, regardless of which school they attend? That goal remains challenging because of how facilities and funding are structured. We’ve seen progress with new municipal athletic fields for community-wide activities, but district schools still face restrictions on who can join school-based teams, and we must use our limited facilities to address the needs of district extra-curricular activities first. Our first responsibility must be to support our enrolled students fully, but I also hope we can keep exploring ways to build community-wide opportunities over time.

9. Just for an offbeat question, do you believe the first snow day of the year should be done via remote learning, or a “traditional” day off?
I’ll admit it — the first major snow day can be great fun and reason for kids to enjoy a school snow day. However, it’s complicated and costly to convert to remote instruction for a single day, and we always make up the time later in the calendar anyway. If residents feel strongly about snow day we either remove a day off elsewhere or extend the school year by one day. And yes, the Superintendent will make the final decision

The November school elections will be held concurrent with the General Election on Nov. 4.

To see deadlines to register, get a mail-in ballot, and other key dates, look here.