Election 2022: Chris DiMare, Holmdel Board of Education

HOLMDEL, NJ — Chris DiMare is one of eight candidates seeking three full-term seats on the Holmdel Board of Education in the Nov. 8 general election.

In these profiles, based on questions provided, the candidates give voters background about themselves and their positions on the issues. Patch is publishing individual profiles leading up to the election.

DiMare is part of a slate Save Holmdel Schools, which prioritizes academics; a focus on children's wellbeing, emotional and social; and is opposed to new state-mandated sex education standards, he said.

Read more about candidate Chris DiMare:

Name: Christian DiMare

Age: 44

Town of residence: Holmdel
Position sought: Holmdel Board of Education
Are you an incumbent or have previous board or civic experience? No
Do you have a campaign designation or slate? Save Holmdel Schools, running with Jeff Mann and John Buckley
Campaign website: https://saveholmdelschools.org
Family: Wife, Sarah; children Liv (second grade at Village, 7 years old) and Leo (sixth grade at Indian Hill, 11 years old)
Education: Master's degree, technology management, Stevens Institute of Technology; backelor's degree, computer science, University of Rhode Island.
Occupation: Business owner, located at Bell Works, Bridge Technology Partners, a talent acquisition company, building engineering leadership teams for Amazon

Why do you want to run for the school board and what in your experience or background prepares you for election:

Having been a student from first to 12th grade in the Holmdel school district and having two children in Holmdel Schools today, I would like to give back to our community and pay it forward by putting in the time to find solutions for us to strengthen and preserve Holmdel's reputation of offering top tier schools. I had an incredible educational experience growing up in Holmdel and my children have been very happy in the Holmdel schools. I grew up in this town and it matters to me that we take care of the next generations of Holmdel students and make sure all are offered these same positive experiences.

I am a small business owner successfully operating within the most diverse community, the technology industry. Throughout my life, I have proven to roll up my sleeves, collaborate well with others, and put in the time to get the job done successfully. I am a passionate leader who will fight through the challenges to execute our plan.

I have volunteered many years as a HYAA head coach. Sports are challenging and although I might not have taught your child how to hit a homerun, I did teach them how to keep their heads up, stay confident, and continue failing to succeed. These are life lessons the children will take with forever.

While watching during the pandemic how Holmdel parents lost their voice and state politics dictated what our schools can and can’t do, we need strong school board leaders who will stand tall to the outside influences and pressures and always do what is best for our Holmdel children and families. We need to keep Holmdel, Holmdel and Holmdel parents should be decision makers for our children.

If you are running as part of a slate of candidates, please explain the main positions of the slate if there are agreed upon positions. Please name your slate and its other candidates:

Save Holmdel Schools, running with Jeff Mann and John Buckley.

Positions: Prioritize academics; focus on children's wellbeing, emotionally and socially. We oppose new state mandated sex education standards. We respect family values and individual freedoms. We want to protect parental rights by ensuring their role in the education of their children and by ensuring curriculum transparency and promoting accountability of all stakeholders

Name what you see as the top issues currently facing your district and how you plan to address them. These can be local issues and/or statewide issues:

Thankfully two major issues are behind us. Holmdel hired a new superintendent, Dr. Scott Cascone and I am encouraged from what I have seen thus far, especially with communication to Holmdel parents and creating a fresh new positive vibe within our schools, which is critical. And the long-standing teachers contract was finalized, a great way to start the 2022-2023 school season.

A priority within schools today is raising awareness among students and staff about mental health and providing guidance and resources to those who need them.

With the pandemic behind us and our children and teachers starting the new school year in the classrooms with their smiles shining bright, we need to focus on children's wellbeing as they continue the transition back to normalcy.

What can we do for our children after they went through so much dysfunction the past two years, critical years in their development? During the Holmdel District Budget Presentation, two of the budget challenges for Holmdel are: 1. Expanding social & emotional learning and mental health supports and 2. The ongoing addressing of identified learning loss due to the pandemic. This is concerning.

What can and can't we afford to do? We need to be creative to find solutions and squeeze out whatever we can to make sure all children are managing the transition well, catching up socially, emotionally and academically, making sure no student gets left behind. Many vulnerable children might not be able to adjust and we need to identify and prioritize children who need our help.

The pandemic emotionally drained teachers and other staff members as well. We need to strengthen relationships and communication between parents, teachers and administration to better support each other and work together in creating a brighter future for all.

Coming out of the pandemic, New Jersey School districts were hit with the controversial updated sex standards mandate to implement in schools. There is material within that I feel strongly is inappropriate to be teaching in our schools and at such young ages. We need to come together as a community to decide what is best for our children. It is disheartening to see that this has been a primary focus from state politicians after what our children just went through. I vow to make sure Holmdel parents voices are heard and we do what is best for Holmdel, not what politicians tell us. We are the parents, and these are our children. My message is: Let Kids be Kids!

What changes or improvements do you see for the district that could enhance educational life and is there a way you might accomplish that:

The pandemic took away so much from the school experience and now that we have moved forward, Holmdel Schools need to build back our school culture. I have been a part of the Holmdel Hornets community since 1985 and will do my part to create positive experiences for all and amplify our school spirit.

We need to create a safe environment for all children so that they can be back to focus on learning. We need to do a better job teaching our children respect and holding those accountable for wrongful actions so that they understand how to take responsibility and learn from this. I am encouraged as we start this new season, under Dr. Cascone's leadership, how the schools are hyper focused on school culture and promoting respect, two campaigns I will help drive home.

The pandemic did demonstrate the value of technology in the classroom, and I would like to find ways to increase our offerings. Technology has been a primary focus throughout my higher education and in business, and as a parent I have instilled the value of being technically savvy to my children, who have become passionate about coding, building websites and creating mock online businesses.

What more can we be doing so that Holmdel students are prepared for their future?
There is feedback coming from the high school that we can be doing much better with guidance and advisory services, preparing students who plan to attend college and children who plan to forgo higher education and start their careers or their business after 12th grade. This is critical for our children that we do the best job possible in helping them create their vision and then assist them with carving out their path.

Candidates for Holmdel Township Board of Education:

Full Term - Vote for Three

• Deborah Wilson, School Community Advocacy
• Elizabeth Urbanski
• Chris DiMare, Save Holmdel Schools
• Jeff D. Mann, Save Holmdel Schools
• John Buckley, Save Holmdel Schools
• Joanne Lam, Education First
• Alicia Unusan, Education First
• Mathew Weisfeld, Education First