School board races are often some of the most overlooked elections, not just in New Jersey but across the United States. Despite their importance, they tend to receive far less media coverage and public attention compared to higher-profile races like those for governor, state legislature, or Congress. However, these races are crucial because school board members make decisions that directly affect local schools, shaping policies on issues like curriculum, funding, and school safety.
In New Jersey, where public schools are a key part of the state’s infrastructure, local school boards play a vital role in guiding the direction of education. This includes making decisions on how tax dollars are spent in schools, the hiring of superintendents, and setting district priorities. Given how polarized issues like curriculum content, books/materials that sexualize children, unpopular mandates from the state, and school safety have become in recent years, the importance of these races has grown.
Candidates usually don’t have the resources to run large-scale campaigns, making it harder for them to reach a wide audience. Nonetheless, for those concerned about education policy, participating in these elections is crucial, as they directly impact local communities and the quality of education children receive. That is why we have the New Jersey Project Parent-Recommended School Board List made of candidates who were recommended by parents in the NJ Schools group on facebook.
To find out more about your candidates, find them online and reach out to them, ask them some of these questions:
1. Curriculum and Education Standards
- How will you navigate and address controversial mandates imposed by the New Jersey Department of Education in our local school?
- What is your opinion about the incorporation of political or social activism in the classroom?
- What is your position on sex education in schools, particularly regarding discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation?
- How will you ensure that schools promote a fair, non-political environment for all students, regardless of background?
- What is your position on sexually explicit and age-inappropriate books in the library?
2. Parental Rights and Transparency
- How will you ensure that parents are kept informed and involved in decisions about what their children are being taught?
- Do you support policies that allow parents to opt their children out of certain lessons or activities that conflict with their values?
- What is your stance on parental notification in matters related to student gender identity or other sensitive issues?
3. School Safety and Discipline
- What is your plan for improving school safety and protecting students from violence, including your thoughts on school resource officers (SROs) or armed security?
- How should the district handle student discipline, particularly with regard to disruptive behavior or bullying?
4. Spending and Fiscal Responsibility
- What is your approach to managing the school district’s budget? How will you prioritize spending?
- How will you ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently, and do you support auditing district finances regularly?
- What is your stance on funding for extracurricular activities versus academic needs?
5. Teacher Unions and Accountability
- How do you plan to work with teacher unions while ensuring that the interests of students and parents come first?
- What are your views on merit-based pay or evaluations for teachers, rather than tenure-based systems?
7. COVID-19 Policies and Health Protocols
- What is your stance on mask mandates, vaccine mandates, or other health-related requirements in schools?
- How will you balance public health guidance with parental rights and student well-being?
9. Academic Excellence and Standards
- How will you address the education gap created by COVID years?
- Do you support more focus on core subjects like math, reading, and science, over non-academic activities?
- What is your stance on standardized testing and how it should be used to assess student and teacher performance?
