Meet West Morris Regional School Board Candidate Natasha Chandler

NEW JERSEY - In a few short weeks what is expected to be one of the most charged elections in modern history is set to take place and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the Nov. 3 election.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the county clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the general election. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact Russ.Crespolini@patch.com. What you see below are their answers with mild style edits.

• Name: Natasha Maximoff Chandler, Chester Township
• Candidate for: West Morris High School District Board of Education
• Previous public office held: Though this is my first time running for a public office it is not my first leadership role representing education and non-profits. I am currently a board member at Monmouth University Business School, VP of the PTO for Chester School District, and President of a Foundation called “Lily’s Friends of Type One Diabetes which I started to help efforts to cure, treat, prevent type one diabetes which affects my youngest daughter.
• Education: MA in Social-Organizational Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, MBA with focus on Strategic Leadership at Monmouth University, B.S. In Business Marketing, Monmouth University
• Occupation: President of Chandler Consulting Change Group that helps global fortune 100 companies drive change to deliver results with right leadership, talent, operating models, and culture. I have been a former VP of Human Resources, Organizational and Learning for a global corporation and a pharmaceutical executive charged with Strategy, Change Management, and Organizational Effectiveness. I consider myself an entrepreneur, consultant, social-champion and speaker and was named a “Top 50 women in business in NJ”
• Fun Fact: Before joining the corporate world, I worked for 10 years in higher education as an administrator. I worked at Columbia University (to fund my education) as a special gifts fundraiser and supported a capital campaign and raised capital funds and scholarships for underprivileged students. As part of this I was also on the admissions committee which was very informative. Given my commitment to education, I recently funded a scholarship at Monmouth University in my name.
• What inspires you: My three daughters inspire me! There are many people that I look up to and watch their influence and leadership. I am inspired by helping people and organizations be great, the advancement of women and children, and being the best I can be as a mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, business leader, and community board member.

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?

I want to ensure my daughters have an excellent experience in high-school. I believe everything starts with leadership and by supporting the board, principal, and superintendent I will be a vocal champion representing the Chester Township community. I believe that the West Morris School District has done a very good job overall and will be focused on improvement opportunities. My interest is to ensure we stay focused on value drivers and work within financial constraints to enhance the student experience, ensure we have the best teachers and academic programs, foster college and career readiness, sports / student services /and extracurricular programs that help students be engaged, performing to the best of their abilities, be resilient and confident about their futures.

I have always been passionate about education and am excited about a position on the board. My three daughters asked me to run for this position and that is why I am doing it!

What is the single most pressing issue facing our school district and what will you do about it?

Balancing all the needs and wants with the Budget constraints! Like every other organization, there are so many things we want to do with our school including upgrades and new investments. Unfortunately the financial constraints will limit this. Having worked in $50B+ corporations and personally managed budgets of hundreds of millions of dollars, I have learned that if you are clear on your mission and priorities and willing to make trade-offs, it is possible to be effective AND efficient and prioritize your investments so they have the biggest impact on students.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board?

I believe my experience makes me uniquely positioned for this role as I am:

• An involved parent that has been active in promoting opportunities and mitigating issues for not only my children by also for the community
• A leader that has driven change in large complex regulated organizations that have ambitious strategies and plans but have budget and resources limitations.
• Someone that is passionate about education and believes in the advancement of people as a primary value and mission to make a great country and world.
• A former University administrator, student, teacher, speaker, and current board member.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective on the school board?

Those that know me will say that I will lead efforts and focus on the issues that matter, drive results with consensus, actively participate and speak up as well as listen and learn, regularly talk to my constituents to ensure I represent them, and partner closely with leadership to drive change.

Recently I was part of the committee for return to school post-COVID (Chester School District) and am very proud of the group effort for design and implementation of the hybrid model. As part of this effort, I first educated myself by reading state educational guidance / COVID health impacts / Other state and school plans / and expectations from the leadership and design criteria. I attended meetings and provided suggestions and solutions, supported the Superintendent and principals, and solicited and received parent feedback along the way. After we had a draft plan, I hosted a meeting with parents and the principal to work through detailed design, scenario planning, and risk mitigation. Overall I am thrilled with how it was executed and happy our children are back in school. The only part that was disappointing was that we did not have fall sports but I am confident we can soon bring them back in a safe and effective way.

Recovering from COVID-19 is going to put a significant financial strain on the schools. With so much of our tax dollars going to support them. But cuts will still be needed. Where do you see room for budget improvement? What things will you go to the mat to defend?

I am interested in doing a deep dive on the budget and learning where every dollar is currently allocated. In Chester, 65% of our property taxes go to the schools (this includes Chester School District) and though there may be cuts, there is still a lot of money to work with! I want to ensure my constituents feel they are receiving full value for the education they are receiving. I will defend the core elements of education including core academic programs, Sports and clubs, advisory, and building comfort and maintenance. I will likely support hiring freezes (unless in core strategic areas), reduce/ eliminate certain program offerings, and speakers / assemblies. Everything I would recommend would be based on a data-driven approach that considers alignment to strategy, participation, outcomes, and parent/student interest and feedback.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put into focus the issue of mandatory vaccinations. If such a movement gains traction, where do you stand on the issue for your community?

This is a very difficult and complex topic and I understand both sides of this argument and also know that my constituents in Chester are very mixed in their feedback on this topic. I DO NOT support mandatory vaccinations at this time. I believe the parents know what is right for their children and should make their own choice on healthcare. This may seem like a shocking point of view since I was a pharmaceutical executive at a vaccine company for 14 years. I DO believe in the scientific evidence around vaccinations and believe they have been an important discovery and amazing preventative method to build immune system. However, I am concerned that they are overused. If you follow the CDC recommendations fully, it will be recommended that a child from birth to 18 has 40+ vaccinations. Being that vaccine trials typically happen one at a time, I am concerned about the adverse impact of all these vaccinations in a small child. My children have received the top, scientifically proven vaccinations and I have given them without hesitation. However, I do not support mandating and I also do not support given our children vaccinations that are rushed to the market. I realize my point of view may be challenged and I am always open to discussion. As far as COVID is concerned, I am very happy there is lots of progress being made and research being done and in addition to vaccines there are also other treatment options and herd immunity is happening. As a parent, I am also focused on efforts for my children to promote a healthy immune system: ensure they get enough sleep, exercise, eat healthy meals, take vitamins, go outside, regularly wash their hands, and social distancing.

Since the change to this year's election was announced by Murphy, there have been many questions about how the process will work. Below is some further reading on the Nov. 3 election process:

• Here's How NJ's Mail-In General Election Will Work: What To Know

A primarily vote-by-mail election means a lot of changes to election day. See what you can expect this November.

• What's A NJ Provisional Ballot? How Does It Work? Patch Found Out

Those not needing an ADA compliant booth will need a provisional ballot to vote in-person. Here is what that will look like.

• Do Mail-In Ballots Force NJ Voters To Lie? Here's The Answer

There was language on the primary ballots asked voters certify they requested the ballot, even if they didn't.

• How Are Election Signatures Verified In NJ? Patch Found Out

Voters wondering how their signatures are checked before the upcoming election can see the process for themselves.

• How To Register, Track Your General Election Vote Online In NJ

Need to register for the upcoming election? Want to track your vote once you do? Read on to learn how.

• Key 2020 Voting Deadlines In New Jersey

Here is a recap of important dates to remember with upcoming election, all in one place.

• NJ: Get A Wrong Or Duplicate Ballot? It Is Probably Your Fault

Confusion and concern has reigned as ballots arrive, here Patch got some answers from a county clerk.

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