Schools should fully re-open only when health officials deem it’s safe. Beefing up African American studies is a good idea. Merging with Morris Plains might be worth exploring.
On these topics–and just about every other question–four candidates for the Morris School District board agreed on Wednesday, during a virtual forum that was orders of magnitude calmer than this week’s Presidential debate.
Maybe the Morristown Area League of Women Voters and Morris County NAACP, the forum’s sponsors, should moderate Trump-Biden II.
A pair of three-year Morristown seats on the unpaid regional school board are being contested in November.
One of those seats is occupied by Meredith Davidson. The other is being vacated by Lisa Pollak, who is stepping down after 24 years.
Davidson seeks her second term. Rounding out the field are newcomers Vivian Rodriguez, Oliver Starnes and Elisabeth Wall.
For an hour they fielded viewer queries posed by moderator Lisa Winkler.
‘HE’S THE MICROSCOPE, WE’RE THE TELESCOPE’
With a $128 million budget, the Morris School District employs 1,000 people in 10 schools to educate 5,700 students from Morristown, Morris Township and (high school) Morris Plains.
Board members traditionally have seen their role as supporting policies set by Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast. That won’t change on Election Day.
“He’s the microscope, we’re the telescope,” said Wall, a member of the town zoning board and mother of a first-grader at the Normandy Park school.
When asked how to ensure all students maintain online access through an extended pandemic, Wall said she would defer to Pendergrast, New Jersey’s Superintendent of the Year.
The other three candidates agreed it’s also his job to sort out student assessment- and advanced placement testing during the pandemic.
Davidson is a former high school social studies teacher with two children in elementary school. She spent $6,000 winning her first election in 2017, in a campaign that called for improved communication, more transparency, and televised board meetings.
The TV never happened. But thanks to the pandemic, meetings now are streamed online.
Transparency proved challenging. When Davidson sought state guidance about whether she could continue serving on the Alexander Hamilton Home and School Association, the board rebuked her, saying any official inquiries must funnel through the board president.
Davidson said the District has bolstered community outreach through creation of advisory councils for parents, and a listening tour by the superintendent last year. If re-elected, Davidson said she will strive to make communication more systematic.
Many residents have questioned the town government’s granting developers a tax break known as a PILOT. Short for “payments in lieu of taxes,” it’s an incentive to builders that cuts out school taxes. The council is negotiating a PILOT with developers of the M Station office project at Morris and Spring streets.
Wall, who touted her civic involvement as president of the Washington’s Headquarters Association, member of the Junior League, and treasurer of the Normandy Park Home and School Association, suggested PILOTs ultimately could benefit schools by bringing jobs–and taxpaying homeowners–to Morristown.
Davidson expressed hope the town will share its PILOT revenue with the District.
‘WE NEED TO BRING MORRIS PLAINS UP TO SPEED’
Starnes, who is African American, said he decided to seek election after working on a human rights campaign over the summer.
“Through that, it became very clear and obvious that the best way to effect systemic change is at your school board,” he said.
A Trinity College graduate with degrees in political science and public policy, Starnes has been active with Black Lives Matter Morristown and is past president of the Morris County Young Democrats. He serves on the town environmental commission, and ran for town council last year.
Starnes said he favors more vigorous implementation of the state’s 2002 Amistad Law, which requires the teaching of African American history. He also pledged to improve outreach to minority families, if elected.
“I can speak to issues that are hurting the Black community, and make sure nobody is left behind,” Starnes said. He also likes the idea of adding K-8 Morris Plains schools to the Morris School District.
“We need to bring Morris Plains up to speed,” he said.
Rodriguez is keen to explore such a merger as well.
She is a grandmother who plans to retire as an assistant superintendent for a Middlesex County school district when the pandemic ends.
A Cuban immigrant, Rodriguez is passionate about bilingual education. She has a doctorate in the subject, and started a dual-language program for K-8 students in Perth Amboy in 2000.
“I believe in bi-lingualism, multi-culturalism, and equity for all. It’s in my veins. It’s what I live every day,” Rodriguez said.
Mr Oliver Starnes is a very articulate, educated , hard working and capable community leader.
He does his research, he listens, and he works well with others. These are traits one needs to move things in a positive direction. And he will.
He did very well when he ran for the Morristowm Council last year.
It is wonderful to see educated , caring people such as he is , running for the Morristown School Board.
Education is an important matter. How well the system operates effects all of us. He would be an asset on the board!
The voters would be wise ,to put him to work for all of the deserving people of this great community . He will do a fine job. All of the residents will get an equitable return by supporting Oliver Starnes.