Meet The 2019 Chester Board Of Education Candidates

CHESTER, NJ — There are open seats up for a vote on the local and regional school board in Chester this November, and Patch caught up with the candidates ahead of the general election.

Three candidates are running for three open three-year terms on the local school board, and another candidate is running for the one open regional school board seat. Both races are uncontested, and all candidates are incumbents.

We asked all candidates the same four questions:

• Why are you running for Board Of Education?
• What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?
• What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?
• What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

All candidates were sent the questions at the same time, and were given the same deadline to submit them. They were asked to keep answers to a maximum of 200 words each. Answers were submitted by email and are presented here as submitted.

Gary Lakritz, who is running for another term on the West Morris Regional Board, and Amy Collins, who is running for another term on the local board, did not respond to requests for comment.

Chester School District Candidates

Heather E. Ronco*

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am in my tenth year serving on the Chester BOE. I desire to continue to serve our community. It takes time and commitment to develop the skills to become an effective and contributing board member - understanding our community’s history, goals, and tolerance for change, learning how to dig deeper and ask the questions to reach creative solutions within the confines of budget, state requirements, employment contracts and curriculum standards. I believe stability and continuity within our school leadership and board has enabled us to set a clear vision and achieve student success.

Additionally, as the parent of older children, I see how the foundational education in our K-8 our schools contributed to their successes in high school and college. I feel a strong and effective BOE should reflect the community of taxpayers who are funding it, not just families currently utilizing the schools.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

Our challenge is providing the best education our community can afford within the context of decreased enrollment, increased state mandates, and increased parental expectations. It is the board’s responsibility to work with our administrators to establish goals and budgets that meet our district’s needs. Recently, our district has further enhanced security, undertaken major HVAC projects, strengthened our civics curriculum, emphasized social and emotional wellness and is working towards a new contract with our teachers.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Committed, balanced, problem-solver

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

During my 3 terms on the Chester Board of Education, I have served as President, VP, member of many committees including Negotiations, Buildings and Grounds, Finance, Strategic Planning and Curriculum. I am VP of the Board of Trustees of the Chester Library where I have chaired the Strategic Planning, Building & Grounds and Finance committees. I honed my problem solving and project management skills working as a production and forecasting analyst and operations manager. I have taught children as a substitute teacher, SAT prep tutor, lecturer on local history and Destination Imagination team leader.

Kerri Wright

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am running for re-election to the Chester Board of Education because I believe I can continue to make a positive difference for the taxpayers and children of Chester. With the exception of time spent living away during college and law school, I have lived in Chester for my entire life and I am the fourth generation of my family to make Chester my home. The Chester Public Schools, including the hard-working and caring staff, helped to raise and educate me and I want to continue to give back to this same community that gave so much to me.

What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

The biggest challenge facing Chester's schools is the continued pressure from the State to do more with less, all while living under the threat of consolidation. As a Board member I would continue to support our Superintendent and Business Administrator in the development and approval of a fiscally prudent budget that will ensure the maintenance of programs and staffing that have led Chester to be a leader in educational excellence. At the same time, I am aware of the push by Trenton to consolidate smaller non-K-12 school districts, like Chester. In my professional capacity as a school board attorney, school district reconfiguration is a large part of that practice and my expertise. As a board member, I plan to use that expertise to ensure that the Board and community are prepared to address these efforts in order to ensure that the children of Chester continue to receive the best education we can provide.

What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

Caring, thoughtful, and pragmatic.

What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

My service as a member of the Chester Board of Education for the last 12 years, including several years spent as the Board President, Vice-President, and chair of various committees, has prepared me to be an effective leader. In addition, I have been a practicing school board attorney for over 14 years. During that time, I have spent countless hours guiding and advising boards of education across the State on the various issues that Chester has been facing, and will continue to face over the next several years. These experiences make me an effective leader and my continued service on the Board of Education would be a benefit to Chester.