Meet Beachwood’s School Board Candidates

School chalkboard. (File photo)
School chalkboard. (File photo)

  BEACHWOOD – School funding and the development of children at an impressionable age were in the minds of Beachwood’s Board of Education candidates.

  The Toms River Regional School District has members from each of its sending districts, including Beachwood, Pine Beach, and South Toms River.

  Beachwood residents Alex Mizenko and Melissa Morrison are competing for one, three-year term on the ballot this year. The incumbent, Dan Leonard, is not seeking re-election.

  Each candidate was asked to list their most recent employment and experience in serving the community. They were also asked to set forward what their plan is for the school district. Their answers are being presented in alphabetical order. They have been lightly edited for clarity.

Alex Mizenko

  “I am the Lead Data Analyst at FAIR Health – a national healthcare non-profit aiming to bring transparency to health care prices. Before that, I did research on alcohol and drug related injuries, with a focus on opioids,” Mizenko said.

  He has never held public office, but he has experience in volunteer groups.

  “I am currently the President of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Toms River – part of an international organization that serves the children of the world. Our marquee event is the River to Bay 5K in Island Heights, which raises over $40,000 for local charitable organizations. I am also a member and volunteer at the Wranglebrook Community Garden in Berkeley, which my mom helped to found,” he said.

Alex Mizenko (Campaign Photo)

  “The biggest issue facing the district is the steep cuts in state school aid thanks to a secret funding formula,” he said.

  This is in reference to the state’s cut in aid to Toms River, due to declining enrollment. However, when the district pressed Trenton for an explanation, they were told that the details were not to be made public.

  “I am furious about these cuts. I worry they’ll prevent us from giving today’s students the same quality education I had in the Toms River Schools,” he said. “I also worry that they will force taxes to go up and make Beachwood an unaffordable place to live. I will continue our district’s fight to restore our funding by lobbying Trenton directly. And while fighting for fair funding, I’ll work with the Board and administration to find alternative revenue streams to fill the holes in our budget.

  “That being said, I want to stem the tide on spending and tax increases. Whether or not we are successful in getting our state aid back, we need to do a better job identifying waste in our budget and finding opportunities to save. I’ve worked on large budgets and know I can get this done. Homeowners in Beachwood are taxed enough and many simply can’t afford more,” he said.

  “Another issue I think faces our district – and all schools in general – is the rising rates of bullying and mental health issues among teenagers. And more recently, we’ve seen an epidemic of vaping among young people, sometimes starting as early as elementary school. It is incumbent on our schools to identify at risk students and connect them to the resources they need. As a public health professional, I think I’m well equipped to be a leader on these issues,” he said.

  When asked what new things he would bring to the district, he said the board needs to do a better job publicizing the things the district is doing.

  “The town hall meetings held for the referendum were great – but our Board members should be holding them regularly, not just when they’re asking taxpayers for more money,” he said. “I pledge to hold town hall meetings in Beachwood so people can bring their concerns directly to me. In addition, I will support live video streaming of Board of Education meetings. I think it will improve engagement with the Board and increase awareness of what’s going on in the district.

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  “In addition, bringing the perspective of a public health professional to our Board would be something new. And I think it’s a critical voice to have on the Board as we face the issues of vaping, bullying, and a record high teenage suicide rate in the United States,” he said.

  Since boards of education are supposedly nonpartisan, the candidates’ political affiliations are not on the ballot. They can choose to have a slogan on them. Mizenko’s slogan is “Students Teachers Taxpayers.”

Melissa Morrison

  “The past six years, I’ve taught social studies at High Technology High School in Lincroft,” Morrison said. “It is a public STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) high school within the Monmouth County Vocational School District. For eight years prior, I taught social studies to at-risk students in an alternative, vocational high school within the same district…

  “For the past 10 summers, I’ve waitressed at a local shore restaurant. Having grown up in the food service industry, it’s something that I truly enjoy,” she said.

  She also has not held public office. “However, I am in the business of educating our youth. I teach about campaigning. Now I’m on the other side of it.”

  The school funding issue is also a concern of hers.

  “The school funding formula, Support Our Students initiative, is the biggest issue the district is currently facing,” she said. “By not receiving aid, it impedes the district as a whole and we see a trickle down effect; from reduction in staff to the reduction of programs and extra-curricular activities.

  “Other issues that face our students are the opiate epidemic, the social emotional aspect of education and real world readiness,” she said. “Upon graduation, every student should be prepared with the 21st century skills necessary to enter into the work force, vocational training or a 2-year or 4-year educational institution. I truly believe that the district and the Board of Education have the students’ best interest at hand.”

  When it came to what new things she would bring to the district, she didn’t want to make promises she couldn’t fulfill.

Melissa Morrison (Campaign Photo)

  “It’s easy to say that I am going to implement this initiative or that initiative to improve the district. There are statutes, laws, procedures that our school district and other districts have to follow. There’s a chain of command so to speak. The best answer I can give is this: I would have to assess the situation first. One can have grand ideas on how to fix the school district’s budget or the school funding formula but it’s not until one sees the workings as a whole in order to better address the issues. The Board of Education and the administration are working together to achieve the same goals; to achieve the vision and the mission of the school district. I’m not one to promise anything unless I know I can deliver it.

  “The community represents our school and the school represents our community. I promise to always act in the best interest of our community and our school district. I promise to work with all Toms River Board of Education Members and stakeholders of the community and school district to execute positive change. My goal is to serve the community with integrity, honesty and respect. I promise to foster a positive and optimistic culture. I will always be a life-long learner learning new laws, concepts and ideas. I look forward to working with the district and its Board of Education members to enhance the district so that our staff and students achieve their objectives and goals,” she said.