Election 2022: Michael Sweetman For Chester Board Of Education

CHESTER, NJ — Candidates are set for the Chester K-8 Board of Education race on the Nov. 8 ballot.

In anticipation, Patch sent questionnaires to each of the candidates vying for the open seats on the Board of Education, asking them to share facts about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent the local school district.

The responses received will get published between now and Election Day.

Here are candidate Michael Sweetman's answers below:

• Name: Michael Sweetman
• Age: 43
• Town of residence: Chester Township
• Position sought: Chester Board of Education
• Family: Wife Eda, Children Mikel age 10 and Andrea age 8, both at Bragg School
• Education: BS & MS in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT, MBA from NYU Stern
• Occupation: Electronics Engineer
• Previous or current elected appointed office: None

Why are you seeking to run for School Board?

I am running because the schools and the environment surrounding them has become chaotic over the past several years. I am confident that I can contribute positively to navigating the challenges while working in a respectful and orderly way to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard. Chester’s schools are great, nationally recognized, and it is worth working in a balanced way to preserve what we have and building for the future on that foundation.

COVID-19 resulted in learning loss for many students. What will you do to ensure students bounce back?

The primary challenge facing the district is recovery from COVID. The response to COVID and the aftermath have changed so many things about our schools and the environment our schools need to operate in that I believe we will be dealing with these issues for many years to come. We need to work to ensure that our students get the extra help they need, and work to return to a sense of normalcy, to include a full range of extra-curricular activities. I am already working to ensure that the Chester Science Fair returns this year, this was a really stand out event for district in the past.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the school district?

The traffic flow at Bragg and Dickerson Schools needs to be addressed to improve safety. For drop off/pick up and kids, the full flow of traffic is routed through parking area where children are entering and leaving cars. We need to explore ways to reduce the pedestrian and vehicle interactions.

What is your view on the sex education curriculum that Gov. Murphy put forth earlier this year? What is your position on inclusion and diversity? Is the district doing enough? Not enough?

I think the way the Chester school system handled the new Sex Ed and Health curriculum is a great example how the board and parents can work together to achieve a good outcome. It was clear from the parent input that the new Sex Ed standards weren’t exactly right for our district. I credit our current board and administration for listening to the parents and tailoring the standards to respond to parent concerns while developing the curriculum for our district. This process involved a lot of emotion on all sides but resulted in a compromise that I think will serve the district well.

For Chester there will be no changes to the K-5 Sex Ed curriculum, there are some changes to the 6-8 curriculum, and the opt out option remains for any parents at any grade level who aren’t comfortable with all or part of the Sex Ed curriculum. On a subject such as this, it will likely never be possible to please everyone, but I think this represents a reasonable approach to get it right for most people, while finding an accommodation for those who are still uneasy.

Diversity and Inclusion is a priority in the modern workplace and is a critical concept for students to understand. Diversity and inclusion is not about making anyone feel guilty or shame for who they are, but rather introducing and understanding the many wonderful cultures, perspectives, and experiences that people have. A fusion of diverse thought and perspective is critical to achieving superior results in a highly competitive global economy and is why diversity and inclusion is prioritized so highly in today’s corporate environment. Overall, I think the district is doing a good job with their program, and I will continue to support it.

What special qualifications do you bring to help meet the challenge?

I have a wealth of experience in public administration and dealing with conflict resolution. I have negotiated contracts, dealt with contracts that failed to meet expectations, and invariably have found a way to deliver and overcome unexpected obstacles. I will bring these same skills to the table in this position and will work tirelessly for the good of the Chester schools and students working to return to a sense of normalcy.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

In another forum I was asked what my vision was for the Chester School District. I love vision statements! I find them to be inspiring and a great help focusing on the day to day work because it helps me to see how the effort will matter in the bigger picture. So I’d like to share it again here.

My vision for education in this community is a school system that prepares our children to excel in high school, and eventually become successfully and happy adults. It is a school that gives them the tools to explore the world and find a career and purpose in life that makes them happy. It is a school system that covers basic tools, like math, language, and science; but a school that also introduces them to all of the other things that make life a full of adventure and wonder; art, music, sports and creative expression. A school that no matter where they go in life, they will remember fondly, and one that can serve as model for the schools they will create for their own children.