Re-Elect BOGDANSKY & Elect LOVELACE for Ramapo-Indian Hills Board of Education

NAME: Tom Bogdansky

Years in Wyckoff: 16 years

I am currently finishing my three-year term on the Ramapo-Indian Hills Board of Education and running for RE-ELECTION . My running mate is Othiamba (O.T.) Lovelace

Family Information:

I am proud to be married to Mae Yazdi-Bogdansky – a 47-year Wyckoff Resident, a Township Committee woman, and volunteer EMT in Wyckoff. We have raised three children in Wyckoff: Ariana, a Doctor of Anesthesia; Matean, a data analyst; and Leila Rose, a freshman at Ramapo High School. We’ve been blessed to raise our children here, and I’ve seen firsthand how critical strong education and community leadership are to our future success of our Wyckoff students. I am also an active parishioner at St. Elizabeth's Church.

Local Public Schools:

All 3 of our children attended the Wyckoff Public School System. Our two eldest graduated from Indian Hills High School and our youngest is currently a freshman at Ramapo High School.

Local Government:

My wife, Mae Yazdi Bogdansky is on the Wyckoff Township Committee.

Occupation:

I have spent my entire career in the entertainment and event production industry. At a young age I spent 11 years at the Meadowlands Arena, 7 years as Operations Manager at the Javits Convention Center in New York, and over 32 years at Freeman, where I currently serve as Sr. Client Relations Director. I lead large-scale event planning and production globally, managing union coordination, multimillion-dollar budgets, contract negotiations, and logistical execution for major clients and venues worldwide.

EDUCATION:

I was born and raised in Wallington. I graduated from Wallington High School and soon after graduated from William Paterson University with a BA in Communications and minor in Business.

OTHER EXPERIENCE:

As a Board of Education member, I was chair of the Education & Personnel Committee for one year, Chair Ad Hoc Committee for 1 year, Chair of the Policy Committee for 2 years and I have also served all three years on the Finance and Facilities Committee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Website: https://bogdansky-lovelace.com/

Email: bogdansky.lovelace.for.rihboe@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BOGDANSKYandLOVELACE4RIHBOE

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanskyandlovelace4rihboe/

Please tell us what makes you the most qualified candidate.

My professional experience has honed my ability to make data-driven, strategic decisions that balance vision with fiscal responsibility.

Here are my priorities:

• SAFETY: Law enforcement (SLEO), cybersecurity, preparedness & prevention programs. I recommended AI aided security software to the head of our security which enhances our camera security system to ID a person who may be hiding a weapon. Implemented when we upgraded all our security cameras.
• PARENTS: Provide greater access & understanding to curriculum materials and school policies.
• FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: my experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and negotiating major contracts equips me to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently, transparently, & directly to support students & teachers.
• EDUCATION: support professional development & classroom resources to ensure educators stay at the forefront of best practices. Equally support special education & mental health services for all students in need. These services promote well-being, improve academic success, and provide a healthy culture. Our responsibility is to ensure ALL students receive what they need to feel empowered, cared for, and engaged to learn!
• STUDENT GROWTH: Champion extracurricular programs & athletics to encourage team building, and help develop confident, capable young adults.

I prompted our BA to investigate our return in interest income and investment. As a result, our interest income doubled from 2.25% to 4.3% and money moved to long term investment at a rate of 5.3%. This kept our tax levy stable by yielding interest income of 1.66M in 2024 and approaching 1.35M in 2025. WATCH VIDEO

What is the biggest challenge facing Ramapo and Indian Hills high schools, and how would you address it?

The Ramapo Indian Hills High School District faces several interconnected challenges that influence both educational effectiveness and fiscal health. To ensure long-term sustainability and excellence, we must adopt a comprehensive approach that aligns fiscal responsibility, enrollment balance, and academic performance.

Fiscal Responsibility

Operating two schools of unequal size creates inefficiencies such as duplicated programs, uneven staffing, and underutilized facilities. By streamlining staffing, energy use, transportation, and shared services, we can significantly reduce costs. Every dollar saved should be reinvested into academic priorities such as advanced coursework, student support services, and college and career readiness initiatives. My goal is to ensure that every expenditure directly enhances student learning and instructional quality, not just district operations.

Enrollment Imbalance

Persistent enrollment disparities contribute to inequities in program offerings, athletics, class sizes, and resources. To address this, we need to explore both short- and long-term solutions. On top of the list is providing Career & Technical Education programs, possibly creating a school choice policy, an introduction to enrollment caps; or if necessary, boundary-based assignments developed collaboratively with full community engagement. No matter the solution, the objective is to create a fair and sustainable system that ensures all students have equitable access to opportunities and resources.

State Assessments and Academic Performance

While the district performs well in many areas, state assessments reveal opportunities for improvement. Using this data to guide instruction, provide teacher training, and expand tutoring and counseling will support the whole child academically, ensuring every student can reach their full potential.

What is your overall impression of the job that the RIH public schools are currently doing?

We have a great superintendent who is doing an excellent job, we have dedicated and passionate teachers that want to see our students succeed. I can confidently say we are in a great place and we are growing stronger. With anything, there is always room for improvement as I pointed out in the previous question.

What do you believe has changed about public education from when you were little, if anything, and do you think the changes are positive? If not, how would you address that?

I think public education has changed a lot since I was a kid. Technology is probably the biggest difference. Students now use laptops instead of text books. It definitely makes learning more interactive and helps prepare kids for the world we live in today. However, I do believe the technology of today takes away from social skills, creativity and hands-on learning at times. My biggest regret though, is that students no longer learn cursive! That to me is a big loss!

For whom did you vote in the 2024 presidential election? With proposed cuts to the Department of Education (see link to DOE release), do you see national politics affecting the local schools in the next few years? What do you think should be done about that, if anything?

I am a registered Republican who voted for President Donald Trump. My record on the board reflects that I am an independent thinker. In fact, the media has referred to me as a “swing voter.” My decisions are not guided by allegiance to any group of board members, whether labeled the “majority” or the “minority.”

My only allegiance is to the Wyckoff taxpayers who elected me to ensure responsible spending, keep taxes down, and provide the highest quality education for our community’s most cherished resource, our children.

I don’t believe national politics are directly affecting our schools in this district. The proposed cuts may be a response to past overspending or an effort to manage funds more responsibly. It’s possible that any savings from workforce reductions could be redirected to directly benefit student education. Ultimately, these decisions impact our tax dollars, and it’s important that they are spent wisely to support our students.

Do you think students today require more mental health counseling than in the past? Do you believe current mental health programs in the schools are adequate, or would you increase or cut the programs?

Absolutely they do! Today’s youth are navigating challenges we never faced! Everything from the pressures of school to the relentless scrutiny of social media and online bullying. They spend more hours at school and in extracurricular activities than they do at home, and that means we…our community, our schools, all of us, have a responsibility to stand beside them. When we provide the resources, guidance, and support they need, we are not just helping individual students succeed; we are strengthening our neighborhoods, empowering our communities, and shaping a brighter future for the world. Their success is our success and we cannot fail them. Thankfully, our district has support services for wellness and mental health.