The “Kids First” Hoboken Board of Education ticket has rolled out their campaign platform calling for transparency, inclusion, and educational excellence for all.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Our policy platform is centered around three core pillars designed to strengthen education in Hoboken. These pillars are (1) Transparency & Accountability; (2) Educational Excellence For All; and (3) Collaboration & Inclusion,” Donna Magen, Pavel Sokolov, and Cindy Wiegand said in a statement.
“We believe that these are the priorities to that will have the greatest impact on improving educational outcomes and build a stronger partnership between the community and BOE in caring for our children’s futures and for our tax dollars.”
For one, they are calling for a more open and transparent process when it comes to the district’s high school expansion plan, stating that the $241 million referendum failed in January since the school board did not provide information to the public as it became available.
“I am running because I saw firsthand what our town is capable of when we band together and demand that our voices be heard and respected,” Sokolov, the secretary of the Hoboken Republican Committee and a strong proponent of the vote no movement, added.
“Through being one of the leaders of the Vote No campaign we discovered many issues in our school district that need to be resolved, that we otherwise would never have found out about. I want the Kids First slate to build on the success and affect positive change for all of Hoboken’s children.”
As a result, they are calling “for an end to backroom politics and secret meetings” and a more fiscally responsible plan that emphasizes education outcomes.
Furthermore, Magen said they want to attract and maintain families in the Mile Square City based on the strength of their public schools.
“I am running because I believe a good public education is a holistic endeavor: teachers, parents, and the community at large make for successful academic outcomes. I want parents to feel empowered to be more involved in their child’s education process,” she said.
“I also believe that any changes or updates to the curriculum should be made public immediately and for families to be encouraged to make informed decisions about their children’s education.”
A first time candidate, Magen works for a large hospitality corporation and is married with two children, the older of which who will be starting kindergarten.
On the topic of collaboration and inclusion, the slate calls for working with state, county, and local partners that includes charter and independent schools. They also expressed a desire to work with the Hoboken Housing Authority.
Wiegand, a former council-at-large candidate, also thanked Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson for leading the district through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Putting Kids First, including great schools for all types of learners and being mindful of cost-of-living, is key for an engaged and thriving community. I have extensive experience going to communities for feedback and turning a variety of opinions into actionable solutions. A community-wide orientation will only strengthen our schools,” she said.
“We pledge that, if elected, any member of our community that comes to a Board of Education meeting or reaches out to us directly will be treated with respect and with a genuine openness to hear feedback and ideas.”
They will face off with the “Leadership That Listens” team, which consists of Trustee Alex De La Torre, Leslie Norwood, and Antonio Graña, as well as independent candidate Patricia Waiters and John Madigan – a former BOE trustee.
All eight candidates will via for three, three-year terms in the non-partisan November 8th contest.