Candidate Profile: Neetu Salhotra For Millburn Board Of Ed 2021

MILLBURN, NJ — Neetu Salhotra is up for re-election on Millburn's Board of Education this year. She believes her experience on the Board is what sets her apart from other candidates.

Salhotra is one of eight candidates vying for three seats on Millburn's Board of Education this election season.

Read below to learn more about Salhotra and her platform for the upcoming election on Nov. 2.

1. What is your background?

"I am Neetu D. Salhotra. I moved to Millburn in 2012 with my husband Rajneesh and two kids who are now a Senior and a Freshman in Millburn High School. I am a current Board of Education member and I am running to get re-elected for a three-year term.

"I joined the Board of Education early summer and have been involved in the work of Finance, Property, Program and Communication Committees. Since moving to town, I have been an active member of the community and have been involved in local organizations and school PTO Boards. I have held various leadership roles in PTO Executive boards of Deerfield, Washington and Millburn Middle school.

"This summer, I finished my two-year term as the Middle School PTO co-president. I started various STEM extracurricular programs in elementary schools. In Deerfield school I started the Chess Team, set up the Math Olympiad program and the Robotics Program. In Washington school, I set up the Math Olympiad program. Earlier this year I organized a district-wide Millburn Education Foundation STEM festival which was a huge success and was attended by about 700 town kids.

"I have also participated in various district-wide committees such as Strategic Plan Committee, Superintendent Round Table, Challenge Success in Middle School and Start Time Committee.

"I have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and a Master's degree in Business Management and have worked in the corporate world for about 10 years as a Business Process Analyst and a Project Manager."

Related: Meet all eight Millburn Board of Ed candidates running this November

2. What goals do you want to accomplish on the BOE?

"I look forward to continuing working with other Board members to

• "Prioritize students' well-being and emotional health along with academic rigor to provide students with a well-balanced experience.
• "Ensure the District continues to provide consistent quality education even with increased enrollment.
• "Keep our Health and Safety strategies updated to ensure the safety of students and staff and provide support to students for any loss of learning that may have happened due to online learning.
• "Assess the changing college admission landscape and evaluate opportunities to enhance our curricular and extra-curricular offerings.
• "Proactively engage and communicate with the community about the above challenges."

To learn more about Salhotra and her platform, follow her campaign on Facebook or her website.

3. What is the number one problem you feel needs to be addressed in Millburn's education system?

"Our students receive excellent education and are completely ready for the rigors of higher education. But the need to excel also puts a lot of pressure on the kids. I would like to ensure that we are prioritizing students’ well being and their emotional health as well. We can do this by both incorporating social and emotional learning in the schools as well as removing some stress points for the kids so that their journey especially through secondary schools is easier.

"The current Board has done some good work on moving the needle on some of the issues like streamlining assessment polices, streamlining access to AP courses, moving to block scheduling and promoting culture of belonging. We need to keep this momentum going and see those changes to the end.

"Through my work within the district, I have amply demonstrated my level-headed leadership and problem-solving skills. I have shown that I can get things done. I will continue working with other board members to bring about meaningful change that benefits all children."

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