Politics & Government

10 School Board Candidates Respond to 12 Public Questions

The public questions ranged from special needs and athletic fields to the budget and the reading and writing program.

The Par-Troy Council of PTAs hosted a Board of Education candidates night on Monday at Parsippany Hills High School. Sandy Giercyk moderated the event, former PTA President, a current PTA Council Member and a Morris County PTAs trained moderator.

The terms of incumbents Michael Strumolo, Fran Orthwein, Anthony Mancuso and Anthony T. DeIntinis are all expiring at the end of 2013. Only Orthwein and DeIntinis are running for re-election. In total there are 10 candidates for the Nov. 5 election.

Twelve questions were randomly selected from the public for the board. More than two-thirds of submitted public questions were answered, but not all due to a time constraint. The public questions ranged from special needs and athletic fields to the budget and the reading and writing program. Check back with Patch for separate articles of the candidates' answer to these questions.

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Eight candidates are running for three seats with 3-year terms and two are running for an unexpired 2-year term available on the board.

Three-year term:

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Two-year term:

Candidates were asked to prepare an answer to the following question:

In light of the current economy, what changes do you see the school district making without compromising the needs of the children?

Candidates were also asked how many school board meetings they’ve attended, whether or not they have children in the district, have a relative working in this or any other district or have a personal affiliation with any union that would preclude them from voting.

Here's a rundown of the candidates:

Joe Cistaro

  • 37-year-old life-long Parsippany resident
  • Two children who attend Troy Hills
  • Attended a dozen school board meetings “so I am on top of the issues and opportunities that the school district has moving forward.”
  • No relatives working in the district, no union affiliation.
  • Outside parties will not influence his decisions. His decisions will “always be in the best interest of our children, teachers and community.”
  • Three key topics for the future of the district:
  • “The superintendent search … the highest objective I have is to ensure effective and successful selection of the next superintendent … vested partner for our community … a proven, educational professional and innovator … with courage and vision.”
  • “Accountability … Proponent of constructive analysis of any and all data that can improve our students’ education, manage costs or otherwise create value in our district … We need to benchmark against the best districts … Once the metrics are established, the superintendent and the district have to be held accountable to achieving the board’s vision and ensuring our district’s success.”
  • “Strategic technology plan … in my career I’ve leveraged technology to create value within organizations. I understand information technology … committed to use my background and skills to help the district with its IT strategy.”

George Blair

  • 11-year resident of Morris Plains with a 15-year-old daughter at PHHS
  • Retired school teacher, who has taught at two high schools and two universities; wife teaches at Rutgers as well as two other universities. “Our family believes in the importance of education.”
  • Last four years, has attended about 15-20 school board meetings. “I am familiar with the issues. I know I can help solve a lot of the problems that this district is facing.”
  • No relatives working in the district, no union affiliation.
  • School board members “should be advocates for the students first.
  • “Board members are volunteers, not budget professionals … It’s critical that we secure a permanent superintendent who can bring the educational leadership, team building and budget management skills that we can believe in and trust … we must find someone that is dynamic, creative and innovative.”
  • “Make sure that the budget process will begin a lot sooner than it did last year. We cannot afford wait until a week before to start finalizing it. Someone from administration has to look at that budget on a daily basis. The board must look at that budget constantly. Keep in mind that 85 – 90 percent of that budget is already accounted for by teacher contracts, benefits and public contractual obligations. Creativity and innovation are the key words when you handle a budget.”

Fran Orthwein (Incumbent)

  • Youngest child just graduated. All three kids went through the district
  • Attended all school board meetings for the last three years. Prior to being elected, attended meetings for about 10 years.
  • No relatives working in the district, no union affiliation.
  • “Highest priority is a stabilized senior administrative team. We need to hire a highly qualified superintendent and business administrator that are invested in this district for the long-term. That will bring continuity and accountability.”
  • “I believe in the best interest of children first. By working together, we can strike a balance among all our stakeholders—students, staff, parents and taxpayers—so that everyone in Parsippany benefits." 

Denis Kadian

  • Grew up in New Jersey. Lived in Parsippany for nine years. Attends 2-3 board meetings each quarter.
  • No relatives working in the district, no union affiliation.
  • Three children in the district: PHS, Central, Northvail
  • Coach intramural soccer, Northvail PTA president for last four years. Currently an attorney in Florham Park.
  • “I do not believe in the sake of change for the sake of change … (but) you should not wait for external forces, such as the economy, force you to make changes.”
  • “Stagnant thinking leads to outdated power struggles and quietly misdirects important resources … I believe our school system has stagnated.”
  • Superintendent is the “No. 1 priority.”
  • We have significant holes and inefficiencies in our district that have gone on for far too long … We need to regroup and re evaluate and reallocate our resources. I think fresh views of the way we do things, along with proper planning, thoughtful consideration and very careful execution, is the answer to weathering the economy.”
  • “As a litigation attorney, … I get paid to come up with innovative ideas that reach my clients goals … My clients are going to be your children.”

Alison Cogan

  • Third year running for school board
  • Five children in the district with the oldest in eighth grade
  • CPA and experience running a childcare center
  • No relatives working in the district, no union affiliation.
  • Good communication between the district and the community is “vital”
  • The teachers are constantly looking to the future and trying to prepare their students … the board must ensure that the superintendent and the district are preparing our students for the future. This cannot be done by arbitrarily cutting programs or services without justifying clear educational purpose.
  • “As a CPA I have the skills and knowledge that we are using taxpayer money wisely.” District goals need to be clear and money should be directed toward those goals.
  • Her five children “run the entire spectrum from gifted to special needs students … gives me a unique perspective of how the district meets the needs of all types of students now and looking toward the future.

Tracy Meunier

  • 25-year marriage, three children that went through the district, are now all successful despite two having learning disabilities
  • 20-year resident
  • Attended PTA and board meetings whenever possible
  • No relatives working in the district, no union affiliation.
  • “I’m not privy to all the inner workings of the current board … (however) in light of the current economy, I will work with the school district cohesively and respectfully to ensure the school’s funding is spent as efficiently as possible … I will respect our educators yet hold them accountable to perform their contractual duties.
  • Communicate openly to the community, students, parents and administration. “It does take a village to raise a child.”

Tim Berrios

  • 23-year resident with three kids, of which a daughter is a senior at Parsippany HS and a 7th grader at Central
  • Wife is a life-long resident and is a 25+ year teacher in the Livingston School District
  • Has worked in information technology for more than 27 years. In his career, has experience with customer service, evaluating emerging technologies, project management, creating and managing budgets, risk management and vendor relations
  • Berrios’ volunteering background in Parsippany: 12-year volunteer coach, referee and vice president of the Parsippany intramural soccer program. Parent field crew member for the PHS marching band. Volunteers for Lake Hiawatha girl scouts and theater program at Central and PHS
  • No relatives working in the district, no union affiliation.
  • Has attended many school board meetings over the years. Since 2012, has attended almost all meetings.
  • The school district budget has fixed costs, unfunded federal and state mandates, salary and benefits, which “leaves a very small piece of the school budget pie for trimming costs and savings, so being fiscally responsible requires a team of stakeholders with one goal: the students of the Parsippany School District.”
  • Need independent voices and unbiased listeners. No township or school district will want to share services with a school district that has had up to four interims and a perceived dysfunctional school board.”

Jonathan Hemenway

  • 35 years old, 7-year resident. Wife is life-long resident and a teacher in the district. Twin 5-year-old boys started this fall at Littleton.
  • Was a coach for last 15 years and educator in the Clifton school district for last 13 years. “I feel this educational background is something that the current board is lacking in.”
  • Attended very few school board meetings due to coaching schedule over the years, but “was at the last one and what I saw was what anyone would need to see that changes need to be made.”
  • “We all have different opinions but we should all work for a common goal, which is to aid our students in the best way we can.”
  • “I understand the current economy is not the greatest …  I would not want the board of ed that would appoint people who cut corners when it comes to our children’s education. Tough decisions will be need to be made over the years … You can make cuts where ever you want, you need to keep in mind that cutting a few pennies at the sake of education is not the way to keep people in our district or attract people to stay in our district … be creative with budgeting in our schools.”

Frank Neglia

  • 47-year Parsippany resident. Currently a facilities manager. In previous service to the board, had only missed two meetings in 6 ½ years. During last year, attended six meetings.
  • Have four children that went through the school district and one currently in the school system
  • Nephew hired eight years ago, married stepdaughter that was placed in the district by her college and was later hired b the district and stepson married a woman who was already employed in the district.
  • Wife Sandra is a special needs teacher in Rockaway for more than 28 years.
  • None of relations preclude me from voting on any contract once an MOA has been signed nor does it preclude me from taking part in voting in regular board business. Not affiliated with any unions
  • “Need to come together to save money where ever possible, work side by side with our citizens and staff” and look at beneficial programs that will not impact the needs of students.
  • “Continue to be involved with consortiums that reduce our operating costs. Although our district has been doing this, we must be more diligent … look into less expensive benefit plans that will benefit all of us.”
  • “I will support any major initiative to improve energy efficiencies through roof, broilers and solar projects.”
  • Find a superintendent that understands the needs of the schools, infrastructure, the community and students and staff
  • “The board needs to do a better job that everyone has accurate information on current issues, especially ones that have direct impact on them.”

Anthony DeIntinis (Incumbent)

  • 15-year resident with a daughter at PHS and son at Central. He is a member of St. Ann’s Parish advisory board and retired from Passaic Police Department, during which was a part of the larges school resource officer unit in the State.
  • Has attended numerous meetings and has not missed a meeting since joining the board nine months ago. During his time on the board, he helped to “improve on allocation of personnel, safety of our students and a closer look at our finances.”
  • No relatives working in the district, no union affiliation.
  • “One change in the district that that will not compromise our students is holding school administration accountable for their funding ... I would like to bridge the gap between the two sides of the township … one town, one agenda, better schooling for our children.” 
Also, if you have an opinion to share about this election or any of the upcoming ones for Parsippany mayor or council or the special election, share it on Parsippany Patch's open elections blog, "The Soapbox: Par-Troy Gov't."

Sharing is easy and free. Candidates, you can also share your platform, full opening/closing statements on that forum as well. Visit the Elections blog here and click on the open text box under the heading to create a post.


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