Get To Know Sparta School Board Candidate Robert R. Zywicki

NEW JERSEY - In a few short weeks what is expected to be one of the most charged elections in modern history is set to take place and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the Nov. 3 election.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the county clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the general election. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Russ.Crespolini@patch.com. What you see below are their answers with mild style edits.

• Name: Dr. Robert R. Zywicki
• Campaign Contact name, phone number (n/a if you don't have one): Campaign Facebook page
• Previous elective office, if any: Appointed to Sparta BoE in April 2020
• Education: Ed.D. Saint Peter’s University, M.A. Saint Peter’s University, B.A. Rutgers University currently pursuing MBA at University of Iowa
• Occupation: Superintendent of Schools and Graduate Professor of School Law and School Finance
• Fun Fact: I’m an avid fly fisherman
• What inspires you: Doing my best in every aspect of my life to make my wife Melanie and four children proud.

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?

If elected in November, I will continue to collaborate with my fellow board members to support specific proven initiatives that will take Sparta from being a great school district to an exceptional school district.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

My top priority as a Board of Education trustee is special education. I believe special education in Sparta needs to be reprioritized throughout the district and enhanced based on research-based best practices. I was appointed as the Board Liaison to the Special Education Parents Advisory Group (SEPAG). It is my hope that we can increase engagement with my fellow parents of special education students and institute programs such as unified sports. Unified sports teams consist of athletes, with and without disabilities, who train and compete together in basketball, soccer, track, and wrestling.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board? If unopposed, describe the issues that define your campaign platform.

First all my children, as well as, my running mate’s children currently attend or have graduated from the Sparta PUBLIC schools. Secondly, I have a singular focus for running. I want my four children and all the children of my fellow Spartans to thrive in the best schools possible. In my professional life I have had opportunities to study and work in some of New Jersey’s most innovative and high performing public school districts. What I have learned is that exceptional school systems do not deliver a superior educational product year after year because they achieved a certain level of success and rested on their laurels. Rather, the very best school districts are the product of a persistent commitment to attend to the schools’ success on a consistent basis. The role of a board of education is to harness the input and support of the entire community, provide governance, and make policy so that the administration can execute a strategic plan that results in high student achievement and a return on the taxpayers’ investment.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective on the school board?

In my professional life and in a variety of organizations and teams that I have served, I have always found a way to build consensus amongst folks who have different viewpoints. Consensus building is the key element to the collaboration needed on a board of education to move the district forward.

Recovering from COVID-19 is going to put a significant financial strain on the schools. With so much of our tax dollars going to support them. But cuts will still be needed. Where do you see room for budget improvement? What things will you go to the mat to defend?

A unique area of expertise that I contribute to the Sparta Board of Education is my extensive background in school finance. In my professional life, I am responsible for a total of over $450,000,000 in public school funds over the past five years. If elected in November, I will leverage my knowledge of school finance to work with the district administration and my fellow members of the Board Finance Committee to switch from an inefficient and traditional incrementally developed budget to a zero-based budgeting model. Simply put, zero-based budgeting saves the taxpayers money by eliminating unnecessary repeat allocations that get handed down from year to year. Zero-based budgeting is more work, but ensures a completely new budget is built each year that is focused on the district's strategic goals. The Sparta taxpayers deserve the use of a more deliberate and discerning budgeting system. I have the know-how and I will put in the extra effort to conserve the public’s hard earned dollars to ensure a return on the taxpayers’ investment. We are facing unprecedented challenges. Every penny counts! It is more important than ever to elect board members who possess the necessary financial acumen to eliminate waste and spend money in a manner that supports the success of every student.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put into focus the issue of mandatory vaccinations. If such a movement gains traction, where do you stand on the issue for your community?

The district should follow all guidance from the Department of Health to get our kids back to full-time in-person learning as soon as possible.

Since the change to this year's election was announced by Murphy, there have been many questions about how the process will work. Below is some further reading on the Nov. 3 election process:

• Here's How NJ's Mail-In General Election Will Work: What To Know

A primarily vote-by-mail election means a lot of changes to election day. See what you can expect this November.

• What's A NJ Provisional Ballot? How Does It Work? Patch Found Out

Those not needing an ADA compliant booth will need a provisional ballot to vote in-person. Here is what that will look like.

• Do Mail-In Ballots Force NJ Voters To Lie? Here's The Answer

There was language on the primary ballots asked voters certify they requested the ballot, even if they didn't.

• How Are Election Signatures Verified In NJ? Patch Found Out

Voters wondering how their signatures are checked before the upcoming election can see the process for themselves.

• How To Register, Track Your General Election Vote Online In NJ

Need to register for the upcoming election? Want to track your vote once you do? Read on to learn how.

• Key 2020 Voting Deadlines In New Jersey

Here is a recap of important dates to remember with upcoming election, all in one place.

• NJ: Get A Wrong Or Duplicate Ballot? It Is Probably Your Fault

Confusion and concern has reigned as ballots arrive, here Patch got some answers from a county clerk.

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