Princeton School Board Election 2023: Adam Bierman

PRINCETON, NJ – Lifelong Princeton resident Adam Bierman went through the Princeton school system and is now ready to take a seat on the Board of Education. An educator himself, Bierman feels himself to be uniquely placed to engage with people of “various expertise and experiences.”

Bierman understands the educational process and challenges and hopes to build relationships in the community for the betterment of students.

This year's general elections will be held on Nov. 7. Patch will publish a detailed interview with each candidate in the coming days.

Name: Adam Bierman

Age: 63

Town of residence: Princeton, NJ

Position sought: Princeton School Board

Family: Wife, daughter and two dogs

Education: BA Rutgers, MA Rutgers International Affairs, Public Policy , Behavior Cognition

Occupation: Teacher at a school for Teen Moms

Previous or current elected appointed office: Princeton Democratic Municipal Committee District 13

Campaign website:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064087441395

Why are you seeking to run for School Board?

I was born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey. I went through the entire then-called Princeton Regional School system (PRS). Public service and education are in my family's DNA. My mom was a teacher in the PRS for over 30 years. My dad served as school board president during the tumultuous late 60s and early 70s. I taught social studies in American schools worldwide, mainly in Latin America and Asia. When I returned home, I began working at a school for teen moms in Trenton, New Jersey. There, I teach social studies and help out with PE classes. The place also allows me to originate and implement programs such as Reading Recovery, verbal de-escalation, Business ESL, and a full-service sex Ed program working with Planned Parenthood. I am also a Communications Workers of America (CWA) union shop steward. I am proud that my Union member retention rate is at 97 percent. Why am I running? First, restoring public trust in the board is vital. Second, there are better ways to teach math than de-tracking, which denies opportunities. Third, from my past "institutional wisdom," I know the importance of "keeping an eye on the cash register." In the past, the BOE has spent frivolously on grandiose building plans, consultants, and others. Somebody should be driving money back into the classroom. Finally, a different independent voice is needed on the board.I am an energizer bunny. Curious, investigative, and wanting to know what I need to know, I do something called "harvest the intelligentsia." I seek out and engage with people with various expertise and experiences. We have many talents in the town; it is silly not to tap into it instead of paying some consultant who might be rubber stamping some administrator's agenda. In conclusion When running for the BOE, I do not represent a specific group or clique; I want to do what suits all Princetonians. Can you help me get a seat at the table? I see myself getting elected as an investment in productive, real change on what is a complacent BOE. If you are tired of the status quo of the current BOE and do not like the way the issues are trending, let's engage and do something about it.

What according to you is the biggest issue facing the school district currently? How do you plan to tackle it?

The referendum and demographics....Demographics have been a dismal science in the past. The past few years ago, we paid $140,000 for an outside demographer whose job is to project how many students will attend PPS in the future. For the past three years, the BOE has commissioned at high cost multiple demographic studies and enrollment projections based on demographic multipliers derived from almost every conceivable source except actual analyses of actual enrollments, say at AvalonBay, on Witherspoon St. As a result, the governing bodies of this community have been forced to make decisions of enormous importance, which were sadly based on only partially accurate guesses about future enrollments. With the results reflecting on the 2018 referendum, an initial proposal of a staggering $180 million was presented. However, thanks to a closer inspection by the public, the amount was revised to $27 million. Such a drastic reduction underscores the importance of vigilance. I and others will continue to help with discerning perspectives. I believe in a meticulous approach to deliberation, data scrutiny, and balanced decision-making, that should not be mistaken for hesitancy or contrarianism. My ultimate goal is clear: to spend money wisely for the benefit of students. If funds need to be allocated, they will be budgeted and used effectively. We need to use our existing facilities more efficiently. Educational capacity at Princeton High School (PHS) and John Witherspoon Middle School (PMS) is based upon a 75 to 80 percent utilization factor. We must find a way to leave 20 to 25 percent of our classroom space. With class scheduling software and other efficiencies, we should increase utilization to 90 percent. If the numbers do go up, we should add cost-effective additions to CP and LB. I do not want to build a new school and have it be empty in the next generation. Do not forget it was not a long time ago, that Littlebrook and Johnson Park were empty of students

The BOE referendum will go up for a vote in November. Are you in favor of this? Why or why not?

See the answer above

The last school year saw controversies that left many students disappointed. What will you do to ensure the district avoids such public controversies and gives the students a smooth school year?

Secret math committees, redacted math reports, questionable math education theories, the abrupt tone-deaf dismissal of a popular principal with the predictable outrage. Issues with the after-school program etc. I feel the current administration is trying to cool things down by hiring or keeping capable administrators from within. Possibly toning down math de-tracking, which I feel denies opportunity for students and it also can be career suicide for students who need advanced calculus for college or tech schools. Providing a synopsis of BOE meetings helps with transparency Attempting to get the middle school math program in sync and keep trying to implement the special ed review. We will see, that once you lose the trust of the masses, it is hard to get it back. You have to prove yourself over time. With that said, PPS or Princeton Public Schools is a tough job. The district has a diverse student body including high-achieving students, undocumented students with language barriers, historically underserved students from low-income families, and students with special needs. Virtually all of these students have suffered some type of learning loss from the historic and unprecedented pandemic that began in March of 2020. The high school principal has to comply with all New Jersey statutes and respect three union contracts that include the powerful teachers’ union (PREA), administrators’ union (PAA), and a union for the support staff (PRESSA). Please do not make things worse by repeating the mistakes of the past 3 years.

What issues do you feel are not being adequately tackled in the district?

Well, what I think, and what is possible are two different issues. A budget is an academic, financial, and moral document with finite resources and shifting priorities The BOE is doing the best they can to deal in an equitable manner, possible overcrowding and school construction. They have really done a fine job finding money and implementing programs for early childhood ed, and interventions for learning disabilities. It would be nice if they had a curriculum to teach about AI, and jobs, that could be produced by it and lost. But is it a priority right now? Perhaps not. My gut tells me that there are going to more smaller referendums coming in the near future. With all the deferred maintenance and no money in the building fund, referendums if needed, will be the only way to go. It seems to me that the BOE does not want to risk trying a huge referendum after the ill-conceived 2018 one. Again we have to see how the demographics play out. By 2027 we are supposed to have up to a thousand new units built in Princeton. If my gut is right, perhaps the BOE should come clean and prepare the town with the big picture.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

As a teacher, I understand the educational process, meet people/students where they are, and have experience organizing and implementing programs, adopting priorities, meeting deadlines, and of course multi-tasking. Also as a teacher and union organizer, I have great experience in building relationships, clarifying issues for others, being frank, but also making compromises. I am not tied down to any particular clique and or organization in town and am truly an independent-thinking candidate.

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

Please consider voting for me and thanks in advance if you do so.

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