Election 2022: John Buckley, Holmdel Township Board of Education

HOLMDEL, NJ — John Buckley 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.

Buckley is part of a slate Save Holmdel Schools, which prioritizes academic excellence and wants to ensure parental rights regarding the state-mandated health/sex education standards, Buckley said. He also wants to see civics studies and financial literacy as part of the curriculum for students.

Read more from candidate John Buckley:

Name: John Buckley

Age: 42

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

Campaign website: www.saveholmldelschools.org

Family: Wife, Carisa; sons, Henry, 3, and Charlie, 2

Education: Bachelor of Science in Finance, Lehigh University (2002)

Occupation: Commercial Real Estate Advisor

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

Having two boys about to enter the school system, I have a vested interest in preserving the quality of education in Holmdel schools. I want to ensure the school’s primary focus is educating our children and preparing them for successful future academic and career pursuits.

As a commercial real estate advisor, I maintain a fiduciary responsibility to my clients, ensuring
their interests are placed above all else. I’m adept in negotiating complex contracts, responsible
for developing, and maintaining multi-million-dollar project budgets and adhering to strict
timelines. I plan to bring that same commitment and responsibility to our students, ensuring
their interests are always the primary concern.

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, with candidates Christian DiMare and Jeff Mann.

• Focus on academic excellence.
• Oppose new state mandated sex education standards.
• Protect parental rights by ensuring their role in the education of their children.
• Ensuring curriculum transparency and promoting accountability of all stakeholders.

What you see as the top issues currently facing your district and how you plan to address them:

• Academic excellence: STEAM should continue to be at the core of the curriculum. Hire the best and brightest staff. Require civic education and financial literacy training.
• Protect parental rights: Oppose the newly mandated sex education standards or at a minimum, require parental consent before sharing related material with students. Support families with special needs students to ensure their needs are addressed.
• Curriculum transparency: Focus on education not indoctrination. Parent should be permitted to review lesson plans, textbooks and literature.
• Advocate for all taxpayers: Ensure fiscal responsibility for all tax dollars. Ensure transparency to the school budget for all constituents.

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

Learning loss due to COVID is impacting students throughout the Holmdel school district. It's
imperative that we commit resources to ensure the students are not left behind and equip them to achieve their full potential. To combat learning loss, Holmdel should consider the following:

• After school reading and math programs.
• Developing a network of qualified tutors.
• Encourage parents to take a more active role in education at home.

Combat attrition of intellectual capital (students and teachers) caused by private and elite charter
schools:

• Ensure excellence in academics by hiring the most qualified teachers.
• Expanding focus on 21st century teaching and learning.
• Ensure that our schools are secure, well run and well maintained.

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