Seven vying for three seats on N.B. school board
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

George Callan

NORTH BRUNSWICK — Seven candidates are running for three three-year terms on the North Brunswick Board of Education. A candidates night will be held at 7 p.m. April 14 at North Brunswick Township High School, Raider Road. The election will be 2- 9 p.m. April 21 in the same locations as the November elections.

George Callan

41 years old

Resident for more than 20 years

Children: daughter, 7, attends Great Meadows Regional school district

Profession: quality assurance management consultant

Experience: senior member and certified quality auditor for the American Society for Quality; 13 years managing Quality Assurance systems, responsible for writing quality standards, training inspectors and auditing manufacturing facilities; professional responsibilities have included education, budget allocation decisions and measuring performance; assisted the New York Police Department with jewelry assessment and appraisal found at World Trade Center to develop the Next of Kin Database

Michael Dawson

Community involvement: member of the Knights of Columbus

Reason for candidacy: "To represent the interests of all North Brunswick Township residents and to ensure that our schools provide opportunities for students to enjoy an excellent education and realize their goals."

Priorities: Responsible allocation of budget funds; hiring the best teachers who will develop the curriculum to provide students with opportunities to learn and achieve their goals; ensure safety in schools; provide opportunities for students to enjoy their education and extra curricular activities; engage residents in discussions to understand their expectations

Michael Dawson

Resident for 9 years

Children: 20, 13 and 4

Profession: attorney

Community involvement: coached intermediate league youth basketball; serves as a youth mentor; member of Tied for Greatness; board member for SIDS

Reason for candidacy: "I am running because the district has changed over the years, and I believe I can bring a different perspective to the Board of Education. Furthermore, during these tough economic times I want to make sure that while the BOE is pursuing efficiency, programming as it relates to our students isn't sacrificed."

Gail DiPane

Gail DiPane

57 years old

Resident for 36 years

Children: daughters 32 and 29, son 29 — all attended township schools

Profession: administrative assistant at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities

School board service: member for 12 years; served two years as president and two years as vice president; served on all committees

Accomplishments while on school board: Facilities Committee oversaw expansion project at the high school

Community service: Adams A.C. Pop Warner cheerleading coach and sports vice president for 20 years; North Brunswick Educational Foundation member for 11 years, including one year as chair; North Brunswick Woman's Club member for 11 years, including two years as president; North Brunswick Lions Club member for three years; Celebrate North Brunswick Committee member for three years, including service as vice chair; member of New Brunswick Elks for six months; member of North Brunswick Memorial Day Parade Committee for three years

Peter Kenny

Reason for candidacy: "Giving the best education we can to our children is my No. 1 priority. Even though economically times are rough, I feel that we all must work together to make sure that our children's education is not short-changed, because they are our future."

Priorities: making sure all policies and procedures are properly followed; would like to see all board members work together for the sake of the children without agendas or micromanagement; "I have three children, all who went through our school system. Two are teachers and one is a nurse. I am blessed and proud that they chose to go in the direction they did. My husband and I must take the credit for giving them a good start in life but I will never forget the administrators, teachers, coaches and support staff that was there for them when we were not around. If elected, I will make sure that your children will receive the great education that my children did."

Neil A. Malvone

Peter Kenny

20 years old

Resident for 16 years

Siblings: of his four sisters, two attend John Adams Elementary School and one is home schooled

Community involvement: intern at Sen. Joseph Vitale's office; vice chair of the North Brunswick Abilities Council; director of The Byron Foundation; former Youth Council vice president; former North Brunswick Township High School class of 2007 treasurer and vice president; former Woodcliff Academy fundraising coordinator; youngest school board candidate at age 18 in 2007, and the first disabled (autism and bipolar disorder)

Reason for candidacy: "The law has a commitment to pay 40 percent of the average per-student cost for every special-ed student. The average per-student cost to the school board [is] $7,552 and the average perspecial ed-student cost [is] an extra $9,369, or $16,921 total. The federal government is providing the local school districts with under 20 percent commitment rather than the 40 percent specified by the law, creating a $10.6 billion shortfall for state and local school boards. This shortfall creates a burden on local communities and denies full opportunity to all students with and with out disabilities. My plan is to stand up to the federal government and get that 40 percent and prevent the shortfall period."

Claire Padovano

Priorities: make sure kids receive 100 cents of every taxpayer dollar; create volunteer reading programs; work toward a better health care and retirement plan for special education teachers; give special-ed students their own wing in school; implement an after-school vocational program where trades people teach about their jobs; increase disciplinary suspension time

What needs to change: the board needs to stop cutting programs while taxes rise; money should be spent on important issues instead of funding high administrative salaries; better security is needed at the high and middle schools

Neil A. Malvone

39 years old

Resident for 11 years

Children: daughter, 9, and son, 8

Profession:Attorney School board service: one term on the school board; served as chair of the Finance Committee and vice president of the school board from April 2008 to April 2009; served on the Finance Committee for three years; also served on the Negotiations and Policy/ Litigation committees.

Accomplishments while on school board: "Three years ago my campaign stressed three items: fiscal responsibility, quality education and openness of our meetings. All three have been achieved. Three years ago the tax increase in the budget was 32 cents. In my three years on the Finance Committee, I have worked with the board to reduce the budget to 8 cents in 2007, 4.6 cents in 2008 and 1.9 cents in 2009;" new administrators have been brought in; board meetings are broadcast live; technological advances allow for more openness and transparency from the board; redistricting helped reduce transportation costs; additions to elementary schools completed on time and on budget; a new auditor was hired

Community involvement: soccer coach for three years; baseball coach for two years; softball coach for one year; North Brunswick 2030 Committee member; North Brunswick Media Advisory Committee member; and North Brunswick Educational Foundation member.

Reason for candidacy: "I have decided to run again because I have seen and been a part of great progress on the board and would like to continue moving the board in the right direction."

What needs to change: athletic fields need to be addressed; math and science programs need to be improved; the music and band programs have achieved greatly but need continued support; the budget needs to be continually reviewed and cost-cutting measures need to be adopted; there is a need for shared services with other districts and with the municipality

Claire Padovano

49 years old

Resident for 22 years

Children: 23- year-old daughter and 20-year-old son who graduated from the North Brunswick Township High School; 17-year-old daughter is a junior there

Profession: principal secretary of undergraduate programs at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers University

School board service: two-term incumbent; served as board president and vice president; served on the teacher contract negotiation committees three times; has been chair of the Policy and Finance committees; has served on the Facilities, Student Services and Curriculum committees; headed the Search Committee for the current superintendent; served as the liaison to the Township Council for two years.

Accomplishments while on school board: better work environment for faculty and staff members; helped limit escalating school budget increases without affecting student achievement; helped hire new superintendent; implemented a nepotism policy in 2006 prior to the state mandate in 2008; initiated the removal of out-of-district students who illegally attend schools

Reason for candidacy: "With the current economy, it is important to have continuity in dealing with issues such as budget and negotiations. It is imperative to understand not only the pain taxpayers are feeling from skyrocketing costs but also what is needed to run effective schools without jeopardizing student achievement."

Priorities: negotiations; controlling costs without any impact on education; preparing high school students for a global work environment

What changes need to be made: improving community relations; moving toward maintaining a positive district reputation

Namitha Reddy could not be reached for comment.

Arthur Lee Young III withdrew his candidacy application, citing he does not "feel he is able to devote the needed time to this office" due to personal reasons, but his name will still appear on the ballot. He is asking that residents do not vote for him and waste votes that could be given to other candidates.