Meet The 2019 Butler Board Of Education Candidates

BUTLER, NJ — Three seats are open on the Butler Board of Education this year, and Patch caught up with the candidates ahead of the general election.

Jamie Tacinelli, Christoph Karl Ziegler, Jonathan Jorda, Jason Karpowich, and Karen A. Smith are running for three open three-year terms on the board. 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.

Karpowich did not respond to Patch's request for comment.

Jamie Tacinelli

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

Very simply, to help, troubleshoot and be of service. I’d like to bring new ideas and my experiences to the Board.

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

Budget! Activities for the children and their families, specialized education programs, transparency. I hope to be able to help in the areas of the budget and general organization of activities for the children or helping fill in the necessary gaps that currently exist. As a start-up business owner and parent, I feel I have the experience and know-how to do just that. Sometimes finding funding in exceptional places, while remaining vigilantly organized is key to keeping a business, household or any organization functioning.

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

Passionate, Involved, Thoughtful

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

As previously noted, I am the owner of a start-up telecommunications company, which is also a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise. I have been an elected member of the Butler Economic Development Committee for over two years and am a PTA member and Class Parent. I feel that all of the situations and obstacles that I have encountered and continue to confront have prepared me for a role on the Board of Education; not to mention the daily uncertainty of navigating life with two young children.

Christoph Karl Ziegler

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

To help better prepare our students in our district with the proper tools.

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

Part A Funds to help bridge the 2 percent cap in our state.
Part B Joining with the BBEA to raise funds for our District. The Butler Bulldog Education Association was founded by a group of BHS Alumni 2 years ago.

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

Honest, Caring, Volunteer

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

Board member and chair of the PTA for over 12 years. BHS Music Club President going on 3 years. Town wide volunteer for over 17 years

Karen A. Smith

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

My mission now is the same as when I first became active with the BOE about 7 years ago…to ensure that every child in Butler gets the best education possible and to ensure that our school district continues to move forward and improve in all areas of education (including the arts, activities and athletics) in order to graduate students that are well prepared for their future, whether they are college bound or career bound.

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

The biggest challenge for a small town like Butler is always funding. The 2% cap on school taxes poses challenges when the cost for running the district far exceeds that every year. As a current board member, and also a finance committee member, my goal is to always look for new efficiencies and additional sources of funding to offset what we receive in taxes. In a small district like ours, every cut we are forced to make because of a lack in funding directly effects our students so we try to avoid that at all costs. In the past, if we had to eliminate something due to a lack of funds, we worked hard to find ways to bring it back to the students as soon as possible.

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

Motivated, energized and most of all caring. All 3 of those traits are important if you want to be an effective BOE member.

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

Leading a team as a VP, Creative Director at an advertising agency while leading a team of 3 sons at home have more than prepared me for my work as a BOE member…in addition to the time I’ve already spent on the board. I’ve learned that to be an effective leader, you must be an effective listener and take everyone’s feelings, opinions and perceptions of issues into account, of course along with the facts, in order to make an informed decision. And, every decision made affects someone within our district whether it be staff, parents, students or residents. But, what keeps me grounded as a leader is to always focus on my goal of doing what’s best for all of our students.

Jonathan Jorda

Why are you running for Board Of Education?

I am running for BOE to ensure the children in town get the best education that the District can provide. I will have kids in the school system for the next 16 years – I want to be sure they (as well as everyone else) is as well prepared as possible for the future.

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

What I’ve seen in the District so far is the teachers don’t always get the supplies and resources they need to be effective. I’ve seen teachers ask for basic things – chairs that are comfortable, desks that fit the students, equipment that isn’t broken or outdated – and the District should be able to provide those things for the classrooms. Between working on the school budget, discussions with Buildings and Grounds, as well as possibly a community led fundraising effort, we should be able to get the resources they need.

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

Motivated, Energetic, Driven.

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

My professional life has prepared me by organizing and running construction projects, frequently in the New Jersey public school system. In my personal life, besides being a parent of 5 children, I lead two Cub Scout dens as well as act as the current Committee Chairperson for the Scouts in town.

Editor's Note: Not all candidates submitted a photograph.