*A story posted yesterday inadvertently omitted one of the candidates running for Toms River School Board. We apologize for the oversight and are reposting the complete version, which includes all three candidates vying for the seat in the November 4 election.
TOMS RIVER – Three candidates are concerned about school finances, and are seeking voters’ support to help the district carry on throughout this challenging time.
Toms River joins other districts that were heavily punished by cuts in state aid funding (To see Jack Ciattarelli and Mike Sherrill’s plans for school funding, see next week’s article). For Toms River, over the course of seven years, they saw a cumulative loss of $175 million.
There are nine members on the Board of Education. Each term lasts three years. Three seats are on the ballot every year. Two seats up for election are held by Beachwood representative Katie Coyne and Pine Beach representative Kevin Kidney. Both are running unopposed in the November 4 election.
Three people are competing for the Toms River seat on the ballot. The Toms River Times sent the same questions to the candidates, Kathy Eagan, George Lobman and Josef Pentz, and these are their responses, edited slightly for such things as style and grammar. They were asked about their qualifications and goals.
Kathy Eagan
“I am a Toms River retired teacher, and past president of the teachers association,” Eagan said. “I have had years of public office. I am looking to be re-elected to be on the Toms River Board of Education.”
“Before retirement I was the President of Toms River Education Association as well as President of Ocean County Education Association. I am a member of the Toms River Elks Lodge,” she said.
“We’re facing significant financial pressures, whether from rising costs or limited funding. We must ensure every dollar is spent wisely and transparently,” she said.
“We also need to continue investing in both physical safety and mental health support. This includes increasing the number of counselors (which has already been addressed), implementing clearer discipline policies that focus on support rather than punishment, and fostering strong partnerships with families to create safe and supportive learning environments.
“As a board member, my goal would be to continue making decisions that are student-centered, data-informed, and community-driven. I believe in listening first, acting collaboratively, and always keeping the long-term health of our schools in mind,” she said.
George Lobman
“I am Director of Transportation Agencies at the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey (UTCA),” he said. His background is in engineering and project management. He works to improve business conduct and opportunities for UTCA members, particularly with state agencies like the NJ Department of Transportation.
“I served as Councilman for Ward 2 for one year after Mayor (Daniel) Rodrick stepped down from his seat on council to become mayor,” he said. “I’m an active member of Saint Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church.”
“School taxes are up 13% this year, and that’s in addition to a 9.9% increase last year. That’s $47 million in new taxes in just two years. School taxes are out of control, and it’s all driven by increased spending,” he said.
“In 2021, the total school budget was $247 million; by 2024, it had ballooned to $303 million. That’s $56 million in new spending. Meanwhile, enrollment decreased by 1,000 students in that same time period,” he said. “The district does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. We must get spending under control.”
“The superintendent just tried to declare bankruptcy, even though debt service is just 3% of the total school budget and now he got our credit rating downgraded, which will cost us millions in increased interest payments. What did the school board do about it? They’re giving the superintendent an $80,000 raise, taking (Superintendent Michael) Citta from $228,000 a year to $308,000 by the end of his 4-year contract.”
“While school taxes and spending are skyrocketing, our state test scores are plummeting. According to state standardized testing data, only 45% of Toms River students passed reading and writing, and less than 33% passed in mathematics. That’s unacceptable! It’s time to raise the bar,” he said.
“We need someone on the school board who puts taxpayers and our children’s education ahead of salary increases for teachers and administrators. That’s why I’m running. Hopefully I can count on you to vote for me, George Lobman for School Board.”
Josef Pentz
Pentz is “currently employed by Prudential in Newark as part of their technology team. I’m also an US Army veteran who served 6 years as part of the Signal Corp in the New Jersey National Guard.”
He has no previous experience in public office, but he has worked with and volunteered his time with the USO.
“Everyone knows that the biggest issues facing the district stem from its budget and legal conflicts with the state. With that said, I want to focus on fighting to make sure that after-school buses are returned to all schools. Without this vital program, students are not able to utilize our grounds that we invest so much of our tax dollars in. Reinstating after-school buses means safer, longer engagement in school activities and ensures every child has a secure way home,” he said.
“One new thing I want to bring to the district is a Board Of Education Budget Transparency Program,” he said. “I want to create an easy way for parents and Toms River tax payers to see what their taxes are going to. Whether that is seeing the value of your dollars going to our district’s incredible teachers, or the $66.7 million, which is 25% of our entire school budget, that goes to insurance companies. If the information is transparent and easy to understand, then Toms River residents can be more involved!”
