Toms River School Board Election 2024: Krista Whittaker

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Patch is again publishing profiles of local candidates in the 2024 election, set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The Toms River Regional Board of Education has three seats up for election; two representing Toms River and one representing South Toms River. All are three-year terms.

There are four candidates seeking the Toms River seats. Jennifer Howe is the lone incumbent. Lisa Contessa, who served on the board previously but stepped away for a year, is seeking election. Also running are \newcomers Diane Oxley and Maria Marisa Matarazzo. Oxley had run for election to the board in 2023 but was defeated.

The candidates for the South Toms River seat are Krista Whittaker, a regular attendee and speaker at school board meetings, and Joseph Jubert, whose wife Jamie is the borough clerk in South Toms River and served on the Toms River Regional school board years ago.

The candidates received the same questions. Here is the response from Krista Whittaker.

Name: Krista Whittaker

Age: 45

Family: Married 21 years with 3 kids, 26yo daughter and 2 sons 18 and 17

Education: High school graduate as well as vocational school graduate with some college classes

Occupation: I graduated nursing school 22 years ago and have been practicing since in the fields of post-op rehab, wound nurse, clinical studies with the FDA, hospice, and pediatrics. Since 2016 I have worked for Aveanna Healthcare with pediatric patients in home settings, providing 1:1 care with trach/vents, feeding tubes, seizure disorders, cardiac care, and numerous other medical treatments/care.

Any previous elected office or appointments in local government? I have never run for a government or elected position in the past.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No family working in the Toms River School district therefore no conflicts requiring me to abstain from voting,

Why are you running for office? I am running for the South Toms River representative for the Toms River BOE because for the past 10-plus years I have been attending the meetings and advocating for the students, parents/Taxpayers, and the community as a public guest and it’s time I speak as an elected representative as Anna Polozzo steps down. Our community deserves a voice that can speak on all matters presented to the board as well as someone who will advocate for what’s in the best interest of said community. I want to provide transparency for what is going on in the district as well as accountability for the boards actions.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing the Toms River Regional School District right now and how would you address it?

Biggest issues we are facing in the district all pertain to S2 funding, or lack thereof. Between classroom sizes growing due to cutting positions (including not hiring new when others retire), doing away with course programs, limited resources for teachers to utilize for curriculum, and the cuts to sports and clubs are all detrimental to one’s learning environment. More so with the actual district is the lack of transparency by the administration as well as the accountability of the BOE. The tentative budget being submitted and passed when our current Board voted NO which includes the increase of school-allocated taxes to 9.9% and the potential sale of 2 more properties is concerning to me and has me questioning to what capacity our BOE operates. The overall cost of providing education to our special needs population and OOD placement due to lack of resources in district needs to be looked into and sought different avenues as to what the district can do to keep our kids here.

Name one thing about the Toms River Regional School District that always makes you smile.

I am a proud alumni to the Toms River Schools (Indians class of 97’) and I can say there are so many things about Toms River School District that makes me smile, but if I have to name just one…. It would be going to a South football game and seeing how much spirit bleeds through the community. From past students, such as myself, who continue to attend Friday night games under the lights (in my situation with no kids of my own playing) to the classes of today. The spirit is still strong 25-plus years later!!