Election 2023: Aditi Gandhi, Marlboro Board of Education

MARLBORO, NJ — Aditi Gandhi is one of seven candidates seeking three full-term seats on the Marlboro Board of Education in the Nov. 7 election.

Gandhi, of the Morganville section of the township, is seeking her first three-year term.

She is running on the Focus on Education team with Chad Hyett and Susanne P. Miskiewicz. The team's campaign link is: https://focusonmarlboroeducation.com.

Other candidates in the race are listed below. No incumbents filed to run for re-election to the school board.

In these profiles, candidates provide voters with background about themselves and their positions on the issues, as they see them.

Gandhi said bullying is a problem that needs more focus in the district, and she suggests a multi-faceted plan to address the issue. "Together, we can stem the rising tide of bullying and ensure that our children can pursue their education without the burden of fear or intimidation," she says.

She also advocates for fiscal responsibility, saying the school board must undertake a comprehensive evaluation of this issue.

Read more from Aditi Gandhi:

Background:

Candidates were asked to provide their professional or volunteer information, school board experience and personal background.

I am deeply honored to present myself as a candidate for the Marlboro Township Public Schools (MTPS) Board of Education. My candidacy is marked by a unique merging of professional expertise, hands-on engagement within our educational institutions, and a profound personal commitment to our community. These attributes underscore my suitability to serve on the Board.

In my professional capacity, I navigate the intricate landscape of the pharmaceutical industry, assuming the role of a client manager. This demanding position necessitates a delicate balancing act among competing priorities, obligating me to attend to the diverse needs and perspectives of various stakeholders, including corporate clients, medical professionals, and internal teams. This experience has finely tuned my ability to actively listen and negotiate, skills that are important for a board entrusted with serving a diverse spectrum of stakeholders, all unified in their desire to provide the best possible education for our children.

Furthermore, my professional trajectory has instilled in me the art of effective project management. My track record not only encompasses the successful completion of projects but also consistently surpasses expectations. I ardently believe that a board member must exemplify exceptional organizational skills, adeptly manage a multitude of demands, and demonstrate an unwavering dedication to delivering timely results for our schools, teachers, administrators, and most importantly, our students. While I am accustomed to overseeing multimillion-dollar projects on an annual basis, I view serving the MTPS as my most significant undertaking to date.

For over three years, I have devoted my time and energies as an enthusiastic volunteer, fulfilling the role of a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) mother at Defino Elementary School. I am a staunch advocate of the belief that parental involvement is the linchpin of a school's success.

In my volunteer capacity, I have actively contributed to fundraising efforts for our school, dedicated countless hours to support our teachers and children through extracurricular activities, and cultivated a profound admiration for the tireless dedication of our educators and support staff. My unwavering passion for our schools and their untapped potential serves as a driving force, and I believe it will significantly enrich my contributions to the board.

Above all, my primary motivation springs from the realization that my children, nieces, and their peers represent the most significant aspects of my life. They stand to benefit immensely from the invaluable knowledge and skills imparted by our distinguished schools. This realization fuels a drive and passion within me, motivating my faith in the potential of our schools and the exceptional work of our educators. There can be no greater honor for me than to officially lend my support to them in my capacity as a board member.

In conclusion, my deep affinity for Marlboro, its exceptional families, and the community at large my candidacy allows me the opportunity to serve. I take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness, for it provides a unique chance to contribute to the enhancement of our already exceptional schools. I wholeheartedly believe that every family and child in Marlboro deserves nothing less, and it is with an unwavering commitment that I embark on this journey to transform this vision into reality.

Top issues:

Candidates were asked about the important issues in their district, and how the school board can address them.

Like many districts across the nation, our district is confronted with several critical issues that demand our attention. These include the imperative of fiscal responsibility without burdening taxpayers, effectively navigating state budget reductions because of the revised S-2 funding formula, addressing the shortage of teachers and bus drivers, combating bullying, and comprehensively examining the 5756 policy.

Among these pressing concerns, I would like to spotlight two issues that have resonated deeply with parents in the Marlboro community. These concerns have been personally conveyed to me during candid discussions over coffee, while volunteering for PTO activities, as we prepared goodie bags for class parties, while canvassing for the BOE elections and even on the sidelines of soccer fields.

Bullying in our schools is an escalating concern among Marlboro parents, and the consequences on our students' mental and emotional well-being cannot be underestimated. Today, bullying extends beyond the confines of the school grounds. It follows our children into their homes through the pervasive reach of social media.

Recent data from across the nation underscores the alarming increase in bullying incidents, and from my interactions with numerous parents during our recent canvassing efforts, it's evident that Marlboro is not immune to this troubling trend.

To address this pressing issue at the district level, if honored with your vote of confidence, I would like to collaborate with the current Board and their ongoing initiative to take decisive action and consider the following strategies:

• Parent and Community Engagement: Foster open lines of communication with parents, guardians, and the wider community to ensure a unified effort in addressing bullying. Together, we can create a safer environment for our children.
• Comprehensive Anti-Bullying Programs: Implement evidence-based anti-bullying programs that encompass both in-school and online environments. These programs should promote a culture of respect, empathy, and inclusion.
• Awareness Campaigns: Launch proactive awareness campaigns to educate students, parents, and educators about the various forms of bullying, its far-reaching consequences, and the critical importance of timely reporting.
• Leverage Technology: Embrace technology as a tool to combat cyberbullying. This includes developing and enforcing clear policies regarding the responsible use of technology within our schools.
• Mental Health Support: Strengthen mental health support services within our schools to provide counseling and guidance for both victims and perpetrators. Addressing the emotional and psychological needs of our students is crucial.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Implement robust systems for tracking and analyzing bullying incidents to identify trends, enabling us to tailor interventions effectively.

It is my belief that by adopting a multifaceted approach and collaborating closely with all stakeholders, including parents, teachers, administrators, and students, we can create a safer and more inclusive learning environment in Marlboro. Together, we can stem the rising tide of bullying and ensure that our children can pursue their education without the burden of fear or intimidation.

The notion of fiscal responsibility holds paramount significance, and it is imperative that the existing Board of Education undertakes a comprehensive evaluation of this aspect.

Fiscal responsibility, from my perspective, revolves around ensuring that we do not compromise the delivery of a top-tier education to our children in a bid to cut costs. Regrettably, we have witnessed certain setbacks, such as the elimination of academic coach positions, appointments and the installation of air conditioning in our schools being deferred. Furthermore, the critical task of retaining and attracting competent teachers and administrators seems to have been overshadowed.

Addressing the aforementioned issues is important to preserving Marlboro's status as a highly sought-after school district, one that beckons families, educators, and administrators alike to be a part of our educational community.

The constraints imposed by the state budget cuts are non-negotiable, and immediate alteration is beyond our control. Nonetheless, we can exercise a scrupulous approach in managing our school budget, ensuring that judicious and well-informed decisions guide our financial choices. Currently, Marlboro finds itself embroiled in a number of legal disputes, which, as experience dictates, can escalate costs without a clear endpoint in sight.

Our competitors have articulated their commitment to allocating whatever resources are necessary to contest Policy 5756 through the legal system. While we share their intent in amending the policy and acknowledge the presence of a considerable body of community members opposing the current policy, we believe there exist superior and more suitable avenues for addressing the policy to make it conducive to our broader community. These alternatives can circumvent needless legal entanglements and unintended repercussions.

As a Marlboro parent, my inclination is to redirect these funds towards the reinstatement of education coaches, securing additional resources for our special education students, retaining our current teaching staff and administrators, and executing imperative infrastructure updates in our schools. The prudent use of our hard-earned funds, channeled into their original purpose: the betterment of our children's educational experiences.

This endeavor necessitates unwavering dedication and effective leadership, qualities that my fellow candidates and I are resolutely committed to providing. We eagerly embrace the challenges that lie ahead, with a firm resolve to ensure that the best interests of our community and our children remain at the forefront of our efforts.

Policy 5756:

Candidates were asked if they wanted to comment on state Policy 5756, which provides guidance regarding transgender students, including communication with parents. Some districts in the state are repealing or amending the policy.

New Jersey stands as a beacon of progressivism, notably when it comes to championing the rights of LGBTQ+ residents. This progressive spirit has not only permeated our state but has been increasingly manifested within our schools, a trend that carries both positive and negative repercussions.

"The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD)" stands as a definitive safeguard against discrimination and harassment, grounded in the principles of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, and other personal attributes. The law is unequivocal in its stance, and I wholeheartedly endorse its principles.

Marlboro's Policy 5756 was initially aligned with this law, as well as the guidelines laid out by the New Jersey Department of Education. According to the Marlboro Board of Education's official statement, the recent policy alteration aimed "not to diminish, in any way, the rights of transgender students, but to create greater parental involvement in these important decisions." It is my belief that the intent was to foster more active parental engagement with their children's lives, rather than fundamentally altering parental rights.

Marlboro constitutes a PreK-8 district, and the responsibility of parents for their children extends until the age of 18. We consistently advocate for parents to assume an active role as partners in their child's education. Should this be the rationale behind the policy amendment, I find myself in alignment with their thinking.

I do acknowledge the state's responsibility to safeguard transgender children who may not find acceptance within their own families. It is a facet of the government's role in ensuring the well-being of all its constituents.

However, the unfortunate consequence of Marlboro's Board of Education's policy changes is that it prompted the State Attorney General to file a discrimination lawsuit against Marlboro. This has placed the district in a delicate and complex position. Presently, the district is constrained from notifying parents, and they have been instructed to engage with the New Jersey Department of Education to seek common ground.

In a recent discussion with the Superintendent, Board President, and a Board member, I was apprised that there have been no prior concerns, and the district has implemented safeguards to protect our children.

In conclusion, I firmly advocate for parental involvement across all educational domains, particularly when policy decisions are undertaken with the best interests of the child in mind.

Marlboro Township Board of Education (Full term; vote for three)

• Dora Zanet: Education Not Indoctrination
• Shamoon Siddiqui: Keeping Parents Involved
• Chad Hyett: Focus on Education
• Craig Marshall: Advocating Family Values
• Aditi Gandhi: Focus on Education
• Cheryl Scuorzo: Education Not Indoctrination
• Susanne P. Miskiewicz: Focus on Education

Freehold Regional High School District

• Representing Marlboro: Michael Messinger (vote for one, no contest)
• Representing Colts Neck: Carl Accettola (vote for one, no contest)

Note: Candidates who have not received their request for profile information from Patch should check their spam folders or can contact Pat McDaniel at patricia.mcdaniel@patch.com for the email with candidate questions.