The “Leadership That Listens” Hoboken Board of Education slate has rolled out their pro-public school platform that includes transparency, improving academic outcomes for students, increasing community outreach, ensuring student safety, and improving facilities.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The Hoboken Board of Education has oversight over the administration and education of over 3,000 students, and it is critical that we find a path forward as a community to serve those students,” Trustee Alex De La Torre said in a statement.
“We feel constructive criticism is important for continued growth and improvement; we are bringing new ideas based on our experiences as parents and community members.”
Antonio Graña, a zoning board member who chaired of Friends of the New Hoboken High School campaign account in January, said the district has achieved a lot since 2009, but there is still room for improvement.
For example, he asked for the board of education meetings to be livestreamed, as they are in Jersey City, as well as “to publish a strategic plan as part of a set of initiatives to increase transparency and better engage the entire community.”
As for Leslie Norwood, another district parent and first time candidate, she feels the district can do more to invest in their teachers and students.
“Teachers are the district’s biggest asset to improve academic outcomes; we need to invest in our teachers, enhance teacher training such as with embedded non-evaluative trainers, and updated curricula and teaching tools,” she said.
“Currently DRA literacy testing ends at second grade; we’d like literacy testing to continue until children ‘test out’, as it is important to know a child’s ability level to assess if they need additional or different resources from the district.”
More details about their platform can be found on their website.
They will face off with the “Kids First” team, which consists of Pavel Sokolov, Cindy Wiegand, and Donna Magen, as well as independent candidates 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.