BOE Candidates Discuss the Issues in Public Forum

Despite slim public attendance at Thursday night's Meet the Candidates night, the six candidates for New Brunswick's board of education covered a lot of ground, discussing New Brunswick's graduation rate, gang issues, charter schools, after-school programs and curriculum.

Moderator Vince Riccifi read questions posed by community residents, several of which asked about what the candidates would do to improve New Brunswick's graduation rate and test scores.

All six candidates running for the board participated in the panel, hosted by Unity Square.

The topic of New Brunswick's graduation rate took center stage in the campaign that was ultimately successful in converting the city's board from appointed to elected.

The most recent NJ School Report Card listed New Brunswick's graduation rate as 58 percent. Proponents for the elected board argued that the district's graduation rate was alarmingly low, while the district said that the number provided by the state was not accurate, and the number is closer to 70 percent.

Newcomer Sean Monahan, who is running on a slate with fellow newcombers Martin Arocho and Stephanie Rivera, said that "Kids in New Brunswick are just as smart and capable as kids anywhere else in the world," but are not getting the education they deserve.

Monahan stressed a focus on science and math curriculum to better prepare New Brunswick's students for 21st century jobs, while incumbent candidate Patricia Sadowski said she favors the idea of expanding the district's Twilight programs, where additional instruction is offered beyond the standard school day.

Arocho, a former New Brunswick board of education member from 1996 to 2002, said he believes the district should expand on its after school programs and make more use of Rutgers students to serve as volunteers and mentors. 

"(It's) a great resource we don't use," he said, of Rutgers. 

Incumbent candidate Benito Ortiz, who is running alongside fellow incumbents Sadowski and John Krenos, said the sitting board has accomplished a lot in recent years, including a flat tax levy of $27.3 million for the past nine years, the construction of New Brunswick High School and annual revisions of the district curriculum,

"I never say our schools are bad," he said. "I say 'Let's improve on what we have," he said.

Rivera, a student at Rutgers University, said her time spent as a mentor at New Brunswick High School for over a year is part of what motivated her to pursue a seat on the board.

She said that she would like to see the school board reach out more to  students on topics of gang violence and their motivation to learn, and make more time available for parents to have a dialogue about education issues.

When asked if the candidates support charter schools, the general consensus was no.

Monahan said that he does not believe in vouchers, but would prefer to judge individual charters on the merits of their respective applications.

Arocho said that he believes in public education, but "also choice."

If the district was more successful, there would not be a need for charters, he said.

Krenos said that in order for the public to get new programs started in the district, they do not have to change up the school board.

"We are open and receptive to new ideas," he said.

New Brunswick voters will choose three candidates to fill three seats on April 16. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

For more information on the candidates, each filled out a questionnaire posed by Unity Square. To view them, click here.