While the November 7 election may seem a long way off, it is never too early to start planning a run for local office. To wit, Livingston Public Schools set a notice last month encouraging residents to run for Board of Education. One of the five Board seats will be up for a vote in this year’s election. It is currently held by Vineeta Khanna, who has not yet stated whether or not she will seek another three-year term on the Board.
In recent years, the Board has seen the retirement of several of its longstanding members. However, in the past, we have consistently had multiple residents ready and willing to take those seats in each subsequent race. During more recent election cycles, we have had many residents run for open seats who did not ultimately win their respective elections, but whom we believe would make quality members of the Board. Each of them cared about the schools and our district’s students, and had unique attributes to offer. It is our hope that some of them will consider throwing their hat into the ring once more.
We have said it before and will say it again, we believe there is great value in having a contested election. When there are multiple candidates vying for positions, the dialogue produced can help educate the public about issues facing the school district. Forums such as the League of Women Voters’ Candidates’ Night – which is not held if there is an uncontested election – provide an opportunity for members of the community to express their opinions, ask questions, and get answers to issues that concern them.
It is our hope that qualified candidates will step up to the plate and announce their candidacies. Since the pandemic began over three years ago, while our school board elections have remained contested races, there has appeared to be more hesitancy from people wanting to step into debates about masking and remote learning, which have made some Board of Education meetings more contentious and polarizing than they once were. As we trend further away from those initial “lockdown” days, however, there have been substantially fewer of those types of discussions. Instead, more of a focus has been placed on the multitude of other topics surrounding our schools. These include the effects that new housing in town will have on the school district, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and curriculum and budget discussions, just to name a few.
As it is for any public office, running for the Board of Education is not a decision to be taken lightly. Qualified candidates need to be involved and should be up to speed on what’s happening in the school district. A candidate should understand that the responsibility is not to administer the schools, but to work with the professional staff to see that the schools are well run and fiscally responsible. A successful Board member must listen to opposing views and be able to explain the board’s philosophies. There is no pay for the position, which requires a significant time commitment.
The legal requirements to be a member of the Board of Education are minimal. One must be able to read and write; have citizenship and one year’s residency in the district; have no contract with or claim against the Board; not hold office as mayor or member of the Township Council; and be a qualified, registered voter in the district. That should cast a net wide enough to include most adults in town.
Those interested still have plenty of time to make a decision, as petitions for the seats are due by 4 p.m. on Monday, July 31. The forms can be downloaded and printed by going to www. essexclerk.com. For information on what is needed to file, see the New Jersey School Boards Association’s Candidate Kit at www.njsba.org. The kit also includes details about nominating petitions, legal qualifications for school board candidacy, the role of the school board member, and information about the New Jersey School Ethics Act.
All Livingston residents benefit from the exceptional quality of the township’s schools, whether it’s the top-ranking education their children receive, or the increased value of their homes because of the outstanding education that is offered. We hope that a few qualified people will care, and enter the contest. If you are considering it, but are still unsure, perhaps reach out to some school officials or Board members to discuss your questions, including the election process, as well as the responsibilities, rewards, time commitment involved, and whatever else you’d like to know to make an informed decision.
