Meet Kiran Venkatesan, Running For Old Bridge School Board

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — This autumn, six people are running for three seats on the Old Bridge Board of Education. Patch asked all six candidates the same set of questions, and gave them a deadline of Sept. 29 to respond. This week, we will publish the answers in the order they were received.

Provide a brief bio on yourself. Age, education, occupation.

My name is Kiran Venkatesan, and I am 44 years old. I’ve lived in New Jersey for over 18 years and hold a master’s degree in computer science. With over 22 years of experience in software engineering and IT leadership, I’ve worked mainly in the NYC metro area, including major U.S. and German financial institutions. Currently, I am a vice president at a leading property and casualty insurer, where I head a global IT engineering team serving our global business.

I am married to a principal scientist with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, and we have a strong family background in education. My mother-in-law is a retired high school principal, and my parents, who are now retired, held public office positions in India.

I am running for one of the three open positions on the Old Bridge Board of Education.

Website: www.kiranvenkatesan.com
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/kiran-venk...
Contact: https://popl.co/profile/YbKONh...

Do you have children in the district or formerly in the district?

We are proud parents of boy-girl twins who attend Old Bridge Elementary School.

What experience do you have that would make you a good BOE member?

Solving complex global business problems with a strategy, road map, budget planning, cost/benefit analysis and a clear objective-based goal setting and achieving key results with well defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is something that I live and breathe. And, to add, I regularly solve operational inefficiencies, advocate for lean processes to optimize and improve the value chain with significant effort and cost reductions.

With the above corporate experience, along with a family-filled passion for education, I bring to the table a solid background to help review, define and set a strategic direction to the crippling school district, including managing fiscal problems by identifying inefficiencies and eliminating waste.

Where do you think the Board needs to improve? This is for both current Old Bridge BOE members and those not on the Board.

The board needs to enhance its operational procedures and ensure the school administration is accountable for the district’s progress. This involves collaborating with the administration to set clear goals and a vision, and periodically reviewing measurable progress. Improving fiscal planning is also crucial, which includes identifying inefficiencies and preparing a standard forecasted budget to guide future planning.

Additionally, the board should maintain a non-partisan, student-focused mindset, prioritizing education above all. Setting academic goals for the school administration and working together to achieve them will help drive the district forward and ensure the best outcomes for our students.

Looking ahead, what are some of the biggest challenges facing the Old Bridge school district in the next 2 -5 years, and how do you plan to confront them?

Here are the top five problems I foresee:

Problem 1: Fiscal responsibilities

The school district has faced significant financial challenges, including a 9.93% tax increase in 2024 to raise an additional $11 million for schools. This increase was necessary due to a 36.8% reduction in state funding over the past four years, resulting in a $24 million shortfall. The 2024-2025 operating budget is now set at $168 million, combining tax revenue, state aid and other sources.

In response, I would collaborate with the board and school administration to audit spending, identify cost-saving strategies and manage the budget effectively. I would also prioritize meeting with state officials to secure consistent funding and advocate for strategic investments. Additionally, I would encourage district leaders to seek partnerships, explore grants, and promote innovative thinking to support our schools.

Problem 2: Academic excellence

While the district is performing well academically, ranking #5 in Middlesex County, there is always room for improvement. I aim to enhance reading and math proficiency rates, currently at 55% and 43% respectively, compared to the top schools at 69% and 56%. To achieve this, I would recommend an audit to assess our instruction quality against top-performing NJ districts, identify gaps and address challenges. Additionally, leveraging technology responsibly, such as providing free access to premium content, and updating our libraries with current, relevant books will support student learning.

Furthermore, I advocate for standardized teaching methods across classes in the same grades to create efficiencies and synergies. Encouraging more teacher collaboration in scheduling and planning, along with improving block scheduling for students, will also be key. These steps will help us take our district’s academic performance to the next level.

Problem 3: Strategic Planning

Focusing on growing student strength, addressing degrading infrastructure, and managing declining resources and budgets is crucial. I would implement a strategic planning process using the OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) framework, which is widely used in top industries and businesses. This involves reviewing the current 5-year plan for 2025 to assess achieved goals, defining strategic themes, objectives, and key results, and creating a new 3-year strategy plan along with a 5-10 year vision.

Each year, we would review the objectives and results achieved, refining the strategy plan to meet the set targets. This continuous review and adjustment process ensures that we stay on track with our goals and adapt to any changes or challenges that arise, ultimately supporting the growth and success of our students and the district.

Problem 4: Optimization

The relationship between board members and the school administration appears to be strained, as seen in BOE meetings. To address this, I aim to optimize the value stream and enhance accountability and ownership. This involves establishing data-driven governance across all levels, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and identifying and addressing bureaucratic bottlenecks. Improving operational processes and creating a lean, efficient operating model will be key steps in this effort.

Additionally, I plan to eliminate bureaucracies by fostering accountability and ownership in overlapping roles between the Board of Education, school administration, and township where applicable. This approach will streamline collaboration and ensure that all parties are working effectively towards common goals.

Problem 5: Fine-Tune Communications

Promoting transparency with all stakeholders is essential. I would encourage parent involvement by inviting them to volunteer as advisors in areas where their expertise is needed. This approach ensures that discussions remain objective and free from political or personal agendas. Additionally, I would ensure that the public has ample time to review upcoming board proceedings, agendas, and details on upcoming topics. By fostering an open and inclusive environment, we can build trust and collaboration among all stakeholders. This will help us make informed decisions that benefit our students and the community as a whole.

Who's running for Old Bridge school board in 2024; voters will be asked to choose three:

• Brooke Richards-Patterson, Transparent, Intentional, Accountable
• Jay Slade - Rational, Not Radical - current Old Bridge school board member, seeks re-election
• Kiran Venkatesan - Transforming Education Together
• Carl Von Stetten - More Student Opportunity
• Mireille Cameau-Wicks - Ensuring Education Integrity
• Richard J. Dunn - Old Bridge Education
• Salvatore DiPrima - Kids First (He dropped out of the race.)
• Kyler Dineen - Old Bridge Alum (He dropped out of the race.)

Who else got back to us:

Meet Brooke Richards-Patterson, Running For Old Bridge School Board

The election will be Nov. 5, but you can vote early in person at the Old Bridge Public Library from Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary, according to the state of NJ Division of Elections. There is also mail-in voting.