Ramapo Indian Hills Regional BOE Candidate Profile: Brian DeLaite

WYCKOFF, NJ — Candidates are set for the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional School District Board of Education race on the Nov. 8 ballot.

In anticipation, Patch sent questionnaires to each of the four candidates vying for two open seats from Wyckoff on the Board of Education, asking them to share facts about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent the school district serving students from Wyckoff, Oakland and Franklin Lakes.

Brian DeLaite is bracketed together with another newcomer Edward Seavers, running under the slogan "Putting Students First." The duo is facing another slate of newcomers for the seats being vacated by President John Carolan and trustee Robert Fortunato.

Here are DeLaite's responses:

Name:

Brian DeLaite

Age:

54

Town of residence:

Wyckoff, NJ

Position sought:

seat on the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education

Party affiliation:

n/a

Family:

Married with 4 children

Education:

Bachelor of Science, Double Major Marketing & Communications

Occupation:

Vice President, Marketing Solutions

Why are you running for this office?

Eddie Seavers and I decided to run for the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education to give back to the community that has given our families so much. We believe our professional expertise and commonsense approach is needed on the Board in order to ensure a rational, nonpartisan oversight of our great schools. We support Dr. Dionisio’s efforts to improve on our district’s strong foundation. Our experience as a business leader and a college administrator gives us a unique skillset to bring to the board. We are committed to meeting state requirements while giving parents the freedom to shape their child’s path. Most importantly we respect that the Board is the financial steward of tax dollars and we will provide effective fiscal oversight to make sure resources have a direct impact on students. We are consensus builders who will keep the best interest of the students at the center of each conversation. Please visit our website for more specific information about us: https://www.rihstudentsfirst.com/

What do you feel is the most important issue facing constituents, and what do you intend to do to repair or resolve it?

The most important issue is to ensure that the needs of all students are being met. In the business world, I have been a collaborative leader who knows the best outcomes come from building consensus. I would bring a commonsense, no-nonsense demeanor and make decisions based on data, not politics. Ramapo Indian Hills is one of the top-ranked districts in the state. My main goal would be to support our great schools and build on our already strong foundation.

What differentiates you from other candidates?

For one, I still have children in the school system and therefore have a vested interest in assuring the continued success of the school district for my own children. Having been raised in a military family, my siblings and I were taught that serving a cause greater than oneself and giving back to your community is part of our social contract. Furthermore, in running a successful business, I have experience managing large budgets to maximize value within financial constraints. In my role on the board, I will always make decisions that put the benefit to the students as the primary outcome.

What other issues or ideas do you feel deserve attention?

Today’s high school students are faced with many challenges, both academic and otherwise, that deserve our attention. Student wellness is an area I would seek to gain more knowledge about in terms of what resources we may need to address the rising mental health concerns among teenagers. School safety is another issue for today’s schools in terms of necessary preparedness. Feeling comfortable and confident with the school’s safety protocols provides students with a safe learning environment that will help them reach their full learning potential. These concerns were not part of the equation when we were growing up but in today’s school environment it is imperative to be aware of best practices. Also, teaching students how to engage with each other respectfully and inclusively online, and in-person, while developing their social skills are important behaviors for parents to teach and for schools to reinforce. Additionally, I would seek to provide ongoing updates to the community regarding the Strategic Planning, currently underway, so that the community is fully apprised of how and when they can participate in the process.

What accomplishments in your past demonstrate that you are the best candidate for this job?

In my work life, I have interacted with senior leadership teams at literally hundreds of businesses. I have witnessed companies whose leadership teams engage in strong, fair-minded debate and others that engage in antagonistic debate. The latter is toxic, corrosive and ultimately leads to poor outcomes. Time and time again, those that can have constructive conversations that lead to consensus always make the better decisions. They also foster an environment in which people enjoy working. They have lower turnover of top employees, and generally have more successful businesses. One of my roles on the board is to encourage and foster positive, constructive dialog with the goal always being to put the students best interests first.

Do you want to tell voters anything else about you or your positions?

Our community is very lucky. We have all the ingredients to be able to see our high schools build on their already great foundation. We have an active parent community, a community that respects our quality academics, a strong and re-focused administration and great teachers. Our children will enter a workforce that will be nothing like that of our own. They need to be prepared for a global economy that expects creative thinkers. Our shared investment in our schools deserves board members who respect process, not those who have narrow dogmas. Our schools are our shared pride. As a member of the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education I would bring the same respectful, fair and responsible decision making as in my worklife in order to represent how Wyckoff residents value our schools.