BOE Candidate Carol Trapp: Retired Teacher With a Focus on Curriculum

Name: Carol Trapp

Neighborhood: Bridgeton Drive

Occupation:  Retired high school English teacher

Civic Involvement: Parsippany Democratic Committee, five years,  American Association of University Women, 3 years.

Student Needs:  Access to dedicated, knowledgeable teachers with superior leadership to motivate every student to reach his/her highest potential.

What the Board of Education Needs Most: A realistic attitude toward the cost of providing quality, comprehensive services to the children of the residents of Parsippany.  

District Strengths: The fact that the schools are functioning at a superior level at this time: state tests produce high results, SAT scores are far above state averages, attendance and graduation rates also exceed state averages; besides these continued successes, savings made through energy conservation has freed up capital to pay for areas threatened with elimination.   

What Needs Improvement: Firmness in negotiations in future contracts to counteract the pressures being applied by the county average settlements and the new state aid formula.

Dr. Leroy Seitz’ Contract: Challenging the customary home rule practiced in NJ, the Governor attempted to cap all districts whose superintendent's five- year contracts were ending this year, and to reduce them by up to 35,000 dollars. This tactic was challenged by our Board, as well as many NJ districts, in an effort to retain its successful, experienced superintendent, Dr. Seitz. I feel this is a process that should not be easily ceded to the state, given our present outstanding candidate and today’s difficult hiring climate.

My Candidacy: I have developed many skills and an understanding of the education system through my career as a teacher, a curriculum director’s assistant, and a grant writer and budget facilitator for two grants, Tech Prep and No Child Left Behind, This experience, supported by my integrity and a willingness to work hard, will, I think, make me a good candidate for the Parsippany Board of Education.