LACEY – One incumbent and two challengers are vying for two, three-year seats on the Board of Education in November’s election.
Incumbent Harold “Skip” Peters is running under the banner of “Students Always First,” Amanda Buron’s slogan is “Integrity, Accountability, Transparency” while Salvatore Armato’s motto is “Putting Students First.”
Salvatore Armato
Armato said he had “many reasons for running to earn a seat on this board. However, if I had to give a few reasons, I feel this current and past boards have failed the residents and students of Lacey Township. They have failed in every way imaginable.”
Armato added, “their lack of transparency, the unwillingness to talk things through and their bully tactics at meetings are not the ingredients of a successful board. Then the one thing that is on everyone’s mind these days, the mask and vaccine issue.”
“The board has handled this matter very poorly. Instead of communicating and working with parents, students and all the residents of Lacey, this board decided they would make decisions for us all. Again, another failed tactic.
As to the pressing issues facing the Board, Armato said, “the most pressing issue is “Mask Choice,” no two ways about it. This board could have very easily allowed parents and students to make choices for themselves, but again they took the strategy that they know what’s best for the children of all the parents that send their kids to Lacey schools. The Lacey Township BOE has zero transparency and accountability. That’s why we need a change now!”
The candidate said if elected he would bring “over 25 years in sales and holding many executive roles with the companies I have worked for, I think my ability to being able to handle irate parents, residents and students in a very difficult time will give all the feeling that this board is working towards a resolution we can all except.”
He added, “people come to board meetings and speak up, as a board we should respond when we can and or let the people know we hear them and will have an answer by the next meeting. People just want a board that hears the residents. I have lived in Lacey for over 15 years and I have four children that have either graduated or still attend Lacey Schools.
Given the recent shut down of a BOE meeting in a live format because audience members refused to put on masks, the candidate was asked how he felt the Board should respond to such situations. It’s a state regulation, not a board of education rule. If the board doesn’t follow state rules, they could face consequences.
“People have the right to make a choice when it comes to wearing masks and vaccines. If residents don’t want to wear a mask that is their right, if they want to wear a mask that is their right as well,” he said.
Harold Peters
Peters said, “I am running for reelection to continue making sure our schools are the best environment for all students, keeping taxes affordable, while maintaining the buildings and grounds. It has been an honor to represent the students of the Lacey Township School District.”
As to what he feels is the most pressing issues to face the district he noted his campaign motto of putting students first. “When I say students first this means all students, including special needs, athletes, students that plan on serving in the armed forces, and vocational students. I think it’s important to make sure we keep class sizes small, offer programs that reach each type of learner, and to make sure we are supporting our students socially and emotionally.”
Peters added, “after having our in-person learning disrupted by the pandemic it is important to me that we are offering programs to help students close any gaps and solidify their foundational skills. We also need to make sure we are offering challenging advanced placement classes.”
“I am very vocal in all committees and board member comments. I hold myself to a high standard and am accountable for my actions and I expect the same of others. I have been in education for the last 20 years, so I have a deep understanding of how schools operate and the policy and procedures that need to be followed,” he added.
Peters said, “being on the Board for the last 2 ½ years I understand the school district’s operations, and it has allowed me to learn how we as a board can work together to meet the needs of our students. As a small business owner, I realize how important it is to understand the value of the taxpayers’ dollars, and to be fiscally responsible.”
“I have lived in Lacey for 35 years. My wife and I both graduated from Lacey Township High School. Our two children Kayla and Olivia attended Lacey Schools from K-12. With the outstanding education they received they were both able to attend college and graduate school,” Peters said.
He noted “one of the most pressing issues our school board is facing is cuts to our state aid package. We have repeatedly asked for the school funding formula but have yet to receive an answer. We are on track to lose over a million dollars for this next budget. I am always trying to find ways to keep our maintenance budget down. One example is by having the work completed by qualified district employees instead of outside contractors.”
Peters said he was “against masking mandates – I am not against masks. I just feel people should have the right to make that decision for themselves or for their children. I understand the parents’ concerns and hear them regularly, the way Executive Order 251 and 253 are written it leaves the school district no way to give parents or staff the choice.”
“As an effective board member, I have to follow the rules and regulations and I have to wear a mask. While I understand the public’s concerns, the school policies have to be followed. I was disappointed when we had to cancel the meeting and change it to virtual because there were students in attendance to receive awards,” Peters added.
Amanda Buron
As to pressing issues facing the district, Buron said “students’ rights and wellbeing are being stripped from them in record speed and all the current board is concerned with is hitting target performance numbers at the expense of the students’ short- and long-term overall health physically, mentally, and emotionally. Students should be educated on how to naturally protect and boost their own immune systems through healthy food, exercise and sleep.”
Buron said, “there needs to be full transparency in committee meetings and accountability for budget spending. Students deserve clean, safe, and functioning bathroom facilities. Special needs students should no longer be pushed to the wayside. In addition, there are too many instances where there are conflicts of interest and therefore current board members must obtain from voting on pertinent issues and spending.”
“Too many parents are pulling their children from the public education they deserve because the current BOE members are failing their children. As an engineer with a masters degree, I am a trained and experienced problem solver. Identifying root causes and brainstorming solutions out of the box is a routine task of mine. I posse excellent public speaking skills. I am a true ethical person who holds high moral standards while having fun. As former President of the Society of Women Engineers and a Girl Scout troop leader, I have skills and experience in budgeting as well as creating ways to fundraise money,” the candidate said.
She said, “when I’m elected, I will work to gain more involvement in regular BOE meeting attendance as well as community participation through surveys and other modalities. As a warrior and informed mama bear who is always advocating for the rights and best interest of all children, I have the pleasure of living in Lacey for over 23 years and raising my family here. I’ve had five children matriculate through the Lacey Township school system, with two still currently enrolled and attending school now – one in grammar school and one in middle school.”
Buron noted the most pressing issue for the Board is to “fight to represent students’ civil rights by bringing transparency, accountability and integrity of every item brought to the table and voted on. Board of Education members need to uphold the oath they take and fight for the students of their town while providing teachers with the resources required to teach within the budget and not to parent or police children. Our district needs to keep CRT (Critical Race Theory) and inappropriate sex education out of our curriculum. We need to restore raw education. Our children have fallen behind due to the state shut down and remote learning. Hence, I would like to brainstorm and implement ways for them to catch up on educational, social, and emotional learning.
She commented on the recent shut down of a BOE meeting in a live format because audience members refused to put on masks. “The current governor is a tyrant in New Jersey and his insensible mandates are not laws. There are ways around masking. For example, meetings could be moved outside or to the auditorium where social distancing would be easily obtainable.”
