Election 2023: Craig Marshall, Marlboro Board of Education

MARLBORO, NJ — Former Marlboro Board of Education member Craig Marshall is seeking another term on the school board. He is one of seven candidates seeking three full-term seats in the Nov. 7 school election.

Marshall, running under the designation "Advocating Family Values," has a link to his campaign information at https://2023boe.com/. He is running with two "likeminded candidates," he said, who are education professionals: Dora Zanet and Cheryl Scuorzo.

Other candidates in the race are listed below. No current 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.

Marshall, of Marlboro, cited his experience as a past board member from 2016 to 2018 and his support of full-day kindergarten at the time, and his opposition to increased budgets that would be burdensome to taxpayers.

He said he advocates zero-based, line-item budgeting and would also seek better terms for renegotiated contracts.

Read more from Craig Marshall:

Background:

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

I attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where I was graduated with a B.S. degree in Finance and earned the Summa Cum Laude Award of Excellence for collegiate leadership abilities and accomplishments.

I am a 26-year Marlboro resident. My wife Meryl and I raised three successful sons as a blended family. While each has embarked on their own path, we are a very close-knit family and take an active interest in each other’s lives.

One son is an executive recruiter for a worldwide creative marketing agency who lives locally with his wife and baby daughter; another is an attending emergency physician living in Los Angeles with his lovely wife; and the youngest is a graduate student at Columbia University in New York.

From 2016 to 2018, I served on the Marlboro K-8 Board of Education and was on various committees including the chair of the Audit Committee. During this tenure, I was part of the approval of the full-day kindergarten program that has been enjoyed by many young students.

Additionally, I vehemently fought, challenged and voted against increased budgets, overspending in technology and was a prominent voice against referendums that would have been an unnecessary financial burden to our taxpayers.

I am co-founder and operate Hynt Beauty, an organic-based, vegan cosmetic company that offers many color cosmetics and skin care products. I directly developed a strategic plan to promote the brand while managing the daily operations and finances of the business.

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, I was involved in the healthcare field for over 25 years as a licensed nursing home administrator, certified physician practice executive and worked as a consultant for two global accounting and consulting firms where I assisted with the patient access and revenue cycle functions for large hospitals and other health care entities.

Top issues:

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

The most pressing issues facing our school district include:

• Abolishing policy 5756: Proposed solution: Replacing policy 5756 with one that includes interaction with parents/guardians as necessary and not shielding them from anything pertaining to the mental, physical and emotional well-being of their child(ren).
• Balancing the decrease in state and federal funding with the needs of our students, staff and administration. Proposed solution: Line-item review of a zero-based budget in coordination with Business Administrator and various department heads as necessary to understand their requests leading to possible changes and financial allocations.
• Ensuring that expiring contracts are negotiated so that they are sustainable for future funding. Proposed Solution: Review expiring contracts for possible negotiation for better terms and ensuring competitive pricing through a defined periodic RFP process.

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.

I am against any policy that would require limiting or hiding information from parents/guardians of minor aged children.

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)

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.