Get To Know Washington Township School Board Candidate Kiran Tadi

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: Kiran Tadi
• Campaign Contact name, phone number (n/a if you don't have one): Kiran, N/A
• Previous elective office, if any: (n/a if you don't have one) N/A
• Education: MD MBA
• Occupation: medical Director of utilization management
• Fun Fact: I LOVE to cook and experiment with different cuisines, unfortunately, i have much more interest than talent, so a lot of planned 5 course meals end with pizza or takeout instead !!
• What inspires you: My patients and coworkers in Healthcare inspire me everyday - I am truly fortunate to be a part of such an amazing healthcare community and while there is still a lot of uncertainty and concern about the future, our resilience and connection are as strong as ever.

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?

My older son went through Elementary and is now in middle school in Long Valley and we have had a great experience with the teachers and the culture in our schools. With Covid, I believe that I can bring a medical perspective to the table which will be critical for decisions on student and staff safety.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is _

Creating a safe environment for our students and teachers and providing resources to facilitate continuing education and social support, and this is what I intend to do about it - I intend to use my medical education and expertise to contribute to decisions pertaining to student /staff safety in the current pandemic. It is, however, also critical to look closely at resource allocation and potentially leverage new technology to update both the tools and training resources for students and staff. Academics must remain a priority through this crisis all students must benefit equally from the virtual or hybrid learning experience. We also have to recognize that students benefit psychologically and emotionally from social interaction and with "virtual" learning, we have to look into tools that will provide mental and emotional support for them.

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.

I have had a great experience with this campaign in that I have met a number of people from my community who are engaged and willing to contribute time and effort for the benefit of our children. I have also had an opportunity to see some of the important issues up for debate and I think that it is important to keep in mind the scope and responsibility of the School board. My primary focus will be the safety and education of our children and also ensuring that we involve parents and families in broader decisions that will need to be made as children grow into responsible adults. Communication will be key and transparency and accountability are equally important going forward

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

I have a lot of responsibility in my current position as a medical Director of Utilization across 2 local hospitals and my position involves integrating clinical and financial aspects of healthcare. I have also had the opportunity to attend Board meetings in the past and as a parent with a child in the school system, I understand many of the concerns expressed by other parents. I also have a lot of experience with multidisciplinary teams and that is valuable as we look towards building a strong and effective school board in the time ahead.

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?

In the current context, it is important to look for efficient workflows and optimizing resource allocation. I have already addressed emphasizing student and staff safety in some of the earlier questions.I also believe that we should take a closer look at our existing technology resources and broaden and update the available tools for our students and teachers. It is equally important to provide training so that they can use these tools optimally and provide structured feedback. It is important to recognise that different students have different needs. So, deployment of virtual learning and student assessments should consider these differences so that we can support all the children in our system. Psychological and emotional support is critical and will become even more important as time goes on. We should also leverage our relationship with vendors to look into additional resources at lower or bundled cost. It is becoming an increasingly digital world and the time and resources we put into technology now will pay off even after the current pandemic.

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?

Vaccination policy for our school district would likely be decided at a state level and maybe beyond the scope of the school board. Also, we don't have a date for the availability of an effective vaccine at this time. I do, however, think that hand hygiene and masking at this point are more important preventative measures and we must continue to educate our children on correct techniques and the effectiveness of these measures. The added benefit of this as we go into the flu season is that it will help us with other respiratory infections as well !!

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.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com
Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.