Toms River School Board Election 2022: Daynne Glover

TOMS RIVER, NJ ? When voters go to the polls Nov. 8, they will be asked to choose people to serve on the Toms River Regional Board of Education.

The seats open this year on the school board are representing Pine Beach, Beachwood and Toms River.

In Toms River, Daynne Glover and Kathleen Eagan are seeking the three-year unpaid term on the board.

Patch asked each candidate to answer questions to give voters information about who they are and their stances on various issues. We are printing their responses in full, unedited except for spelling or punctuation.

Here are the answers for Daynne Glover, who is 37 years old.

Tell voters about your family: I am married to my husband, Kris Glover, who I met in high school at Toms River High School East. We have been together for 22 years and we have been married for 15 years. We have two children in the Toms River Regional School district, our 10-year-old daughter, Mollea, who is a 5th grader, and our 7-year-old, Mack, who is a 2nd grader.

Tell voters about your education: I graduated from Penn State University with my bachelor of science in human development and family studies and then from Rutgers University with a master of public administration.

What is your occupation? I am a policy and outreach associate with the Advocates for Children of New Jersey supporting the Early Learning team and I have worked for nonprofit organizations who work to promote early childhood development the last 16 years.

Previous elective office, if any: I have never been elected to public office.

Do you or anyone in your family work for the state, county or local governments? No.

Why are you running for the Board of Education? I am seeking a seat on the school board because as a proud alum of Toms River High School East, and a mother of two young children in the school district, I have experienced the quality and innovative educational experience the district has provided and continues to provide. However, our district has also recently faced difficulties due to financial strain from state-aid cuts, a long superintendent search, building delays, and the ongoing pressures our teachers and staff carry every day. The board needs a dedicated, skillful leader. I believe that my experience working and collaborating with state departments, analyzing contracts and data and working with key legislators at the local, state and federal level to ensure the voices of families are heard will be an asset to the school board and our community. I am committed to being a voice for families in our district and cutting through political polarization to ensure the board governs as a team.

What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing your school district and what do you want to do about it?

I believe the most pressing issue facing the school district is the effects of decreased state school funding, but I believe another pressing issue is that the community has lost confidence in the school board and therefore partnerships and effective communication with families of the district, but also other residents must be prioritized.

I believe in community collaboration and parent voice at all levels of government, but especially in the local school board. I know it can be especially difficult staying involved given the many demands all families face. To achieve further collaboration, I will promote connecting with parent advisory groups and community-based organizations that interact regularly with families. This coalition will inform a comprehensive Communication Plan. The district has a chain of communication outlining how parents can effectively communicate with school officials and they also provide information through their website, email and on their social media accounts. However, they publicly post that they encourage community members who want accurate information to use email and phone communication and reach out to the schools themselves. While this is an important piece of a communication plan, it is also essential that the voices of parents and community members are a part of a regular feedback loop about the district that is relegated to board meetings. Various opportunities should be provided and inclusion of members of various parts of our town (parents, small business owners, health care, veterans, seniors, etc.) for input and a community coalition would help promote collaboration, provide education and demonstrate the important role the district has in the community.

The Toms River Regional schools continue to suffer cuts under S2. These cuts could cost the district dozens of teachers? jobs in the next two years. What do you think the district should do to address the financial crush the cuts are creating?

The most pressing issue is the effect of the S2 school funding formula which has dealt our district devastating state funding cuts that will total nearly $70 million in school aid by 2025. When elected I will partner with fellow Board members, the administration, teachers, staff and families to assess and understand what we have done so far and ask for a current assessment of the impact of the significant funding cuts. In order to plan for the future, we must continue to engage a diverse community coalition to develop a strategic plan that is informed by the impact of the district?s funding not only on the district itself, but also on the town. I will also bring my unique professional experience working with key legislators at the local and state level to ensure the voices of our community and district are heard. In addition, I will encourage innovative strategies the district can leverage for additional funding sources including identifying new income sources such as utilizing existing facilities such as the RWJ Barnabas Arena and John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex. Lastly, I believe the district should further explore preschool expansion for the district?s 3- and 4-year-olds. This would increase state funding and the district could examine more resourceful methods such as a mixed delivery by partnering with the town?s licensed child care facilities which would permit faster expansion of preschool and equalize access to high-quality preschool as the space in those facilities would be available sooner and at a lower cost.

The school district ? like districts all over ? has dealt with vocal criticism of curriculum, including social-emotional learning, which has been part of education for years. As mental health concerns and bullying continue to skyrocket, do you feel efforts to address kindness and empathy in school are misplaced?

I applaud the school district which has acknowledged the impact of the pandemic and other environmental stressors affecting Toms River students by instituting guidance counselors in each of the district?s 19 schools for the 2022-2023 school year without extra spending. Guidance counselors are an integral part of every student?s social-emotional well-being and school success.

While the district has made some progress in supporting the needs of children throughout their development, parental involvement is paramount to inform their child?s learning and development. Parents are key stakeholders in curriculum development and an effective curriculum should include regular parental feedback by creating varied opportunities for input.

If you could change one thing about how the Toms River schools are being operated right now, what would it be?

Some current board members have conflicts of interest which ultimately led to a long and costly superintendent search. I can promise that I will be able to vote, as I have no conflicts of interest. It is essential that the board has the respect and confidence of the community, and my votes will be based upon listening to parents, teachers, staff and district residents for the best interests of every child.