MANCHESTER – Two three-year seats on the township’s Board of Education are being sought by four candidates in the November 4 general election.
The candidates include Brian Guzman and Justine Beltran who are running on the Manchester Kids First ticket; and incumbent candidates Gayle Mount and Fay Weinstein who are running on the slogan Excellence and Equity.
Three years ago, Mount was sworn in to her second term while Weinstein was sworn in after winning as a write-in candidate.
The Manchester Times asked several questions to the candidates concerning their views about the issues of the school district and the challenges of serving on the Board. Their replies are included in this article.
Weinstein said that “after serving my first three-year term I feel the knowledge I have gained both by attending educational seminars for school board members and by being an active member of Manchester Board of Ed will continue to serve Manchester well.”
“I firmly believe in public education and want to support my community. As a retired senior I have the time and interest to serve,” she added.
When asked about what she sees as the most crucial issue facing public education and the Manchester School District she replied, “funding is probably our biggest challenge. The loss of federal funding and the huge increase in health care benefits will create gaps that can only be closed by cutting back staff and activities. Our students will be the big losers if we cannot find necessary funds.”
Regarding some of the challenges the school district has faced recently Weinstein said, “the recent pandemic really had a negative effect on all children. It is really important to address the gaps created during that challenging time in students’ education and find ways to remediate and grow students’ performance levels.”
As to her experience and what she will bring to the table as a member of the Board of Education she explained, “as a trained children’s librarian I understand the importance of students being able to read a variety of books and other media.”
“I believe parents should engage with their own children and decide what books they think their own child can or cannot read. I do not believe that books should be removed from the library for everyone because one parent objects,” she added.
Weinstein said, “as a senior citizen living in a senior community, I enjoy bringing together students and seniors. I believe it is healthy for both generations to engage with each other. In addition, I am able to speak to the seniors why school funding is so important.”
Beltran said “as a nurse, my first priority is always health and safety. On the Board of Education, I will bring that same focus to our children – making sure they learn in safe, supportive, and healthy schools. Every decision I make will be guided by one goal: protecting and helping our kids succeed.”
She added, “I feel our schools in Manchester’s biggest issues are tight budgets. I believe we can better utilize resources that we have. I feel I can assist in ensuring that our resources are used wisely, and that families feel heard and respected.”
“I feel Manchester’s common challenges are slipping test scores, rising special education costs, and the need for safer, healthier environments for our children,” she added.
Beltran said, “My career has been about prevention, advocacy, and protecting people with the resources we have. As a nurse I’m trusted to look after people when they’re most vulnerable – and that’s exactly what I plan to do with our children. My goal is to bring care, advocacy, crisis management, and prevention skills – all of which make schools safer, healthier, and better places for children to learn.”
Mount said she was seeking re-election as she has served on the BOE for the last six years and “I enjoy doing so. I am very invested in education. I have three children that attend the Manchester Schools that both my husband and I graduated from.”
She added, “this September, I began my 26th year as a special education teacher. As a BOE member I value being part of the school district and being part of the process that makes them run. I take this responsibility very seriously and go above and beyond when it comes to training.”
“I am currently a Certified School Board Member and if re-elected I hope to earn the title Master School Board Member. I am very transparent with my fellow BOE Members and the community. I look forward to continuing my service as a BOE Member.”
Mount said she feels, “there are three crucial issues facing public education, not just one. The first I believe is the mental health crisis. I feel like a lot of people (all over the world) are struggling. I feel we need more resources and access to resources to help those struggling socially and emotionally. When one feels safe in his or her environment it is easier to learn and find success. Systemically, I feel it is hard for people to get help in a timely fashion when it comes to mental health.”
“The second issue is school security. There is a lot going on in the world and school security is paramount. Our district takes school security seriously and has done amazing things to keep our buildings safe. I would like to continue working with the Manchester Police Department and ensure that we are keeping up with everything we need to so our buildings stay safe,” she added.
Mount said, “the third issue I feel that impacts our schools is finances. Each year medical insurance and other expenses involved in running a school go up (transportation, supplies, etc.) I think we need to continue doing everything we can to keep up with our programs while remaining fiscally responsible.”
“We have had a lot of movement and changes in district leadership due to retirements and movement. Other major challenges have to do with finances. S-2 funding and the State Health Plan because of the drastic rate increases,” Mount remarked.
Mount said if elected, “I bring a lot of experience to the table as a member of the Board of Education. I have been serving for the last six years and have been elected Vice-President and for the last two years I have served as President.”
“I keep up with training and go above and beyond seeking knowledge to be a more effective BOE Member. I have completed enough training to become a Certified BOE Member and if re-elected I hope to earn Master School Board status. I run the BOE Meetings and speak on behalf of the BOE,” Mount added.
The candidate noted that she chairs the Board’s Policy Committee “and have worked with administration on residency. As a parent and educator, I value education and can bring ideas to the table. I am very open and honest and I believe in transparency with my fellow BOE Members and the community.”
“I listen to others and encourage them to follow the chain of command to aide them with their issues. In six years, I have not missed any BOE Meetings and I am visible at many school functions,” Mount said.
Guzman explained the reason why he was running for office, “as a Law Enforcement officer for the past 17 years, I have always had the desire to focus on the combination to help people, I have a commitment to public service, and to create a safer community for the children in our town.”
“One of the bigger issues our schools in Manchester face is the budget. We have to allocate more resources for staffing. We are seeing a shift in demographics for our students in classrooms. Equal education for all is needed so no children are left behind,” he added.
The candidate said “prioritizing our budget is always a challenge but it needs to be made with the best interest for every Manchester student. There needs to be more focus on the overall mental health of students who are enrolled in each school and at every grade level.”
“As a board of education member, I want to serve as an elected voice for this community. Having experience in public service for many years I want to utilize my voice to encourage others to work together for the betterment of the children of Manchester,” Guzman added.
