Bloomfield BOE candidates debate the issues at forum

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The Bloomfield Home and School Council sponsored a debate last week for the six local Board of Education candidates vying for three seats in the Nov. 5 election. Before an audience of 20 at the middle school, the candidates sat at a table in alphabetical order; they included challenger Dan Anderson, incumbent BOE President Jill Fischman, challengers Laura Izurieta and Satenik Margaryan, incumbent Ben Morse and challenger Emily Smith. Absent was incumbent Lillian Mancheno.

The debate moderators were the Bloomfield Home and School Council President Mayra Pastore and secretary Carolyn Petti, and the program was recorded for Bloomfield TV.

The candidates introduced themselves with opening statements.
Anderson said he is a firm believer in public education that addresses the whole child. His approach to education is project-based and he is opposed to high-stakes testing, favoring more student assessments by teachers.
“People cannot be standardized,” he said.

Anderson said Trenton must be petitioned to fully fund its educational mandates.
Fischman, a board member since 2013, said she is a product of the Bloomfield School District. The most important responsibilities for a board member, she said, are planning and maintaining consistency. During her time on the board, she said the number of teachers has increased and more technology was implemented in the schools.

Izurieta spoke briefly and extemporaneously, saying she has lived in Bloomfield since the 1990s and that, “Our kids are our future.”
Margaryan said she is passionate about education and has two decades of teaching experience. A first-generation immigrant, she said she has volunteered for several township committees and at Watsessing Elementary School, and also has a doctorate in criminology.
“We must address issues of school equality,” she said.

Morse said he is running for re-election “to keep an eye on the day-to-day activity” of the school district in the capacity of liaison to the public, adding that he wants to make sure the district administration is in step with strategic planning. He said the most pressing board issue is teacher contracts and the most important future consideration is the increasing student population.

Smith, who is running for her fourth BOE term on a slate with Izurieta and Mancheno, moved into the township 20 years ago. She has two daughters who were born in China and chose to live in Bloomfield because of its diversity. She first served on the board in 2005 and has served on all its committees. Out-of-control, megalomaniacal management threatens the district, she said.

The six candidates then responded to questions from the public, the first being what cuts they would make. All the candidates favored no cuts, but Anderson said he would like to see an increase in the teaching staff and Fischman wanted to “grow” what is already working.
Morse said the district is “running a pretty tight ship” and Smith agreed, saying the board is already working “pretty close to the bone,” but that she would like to see the town increase its ratables.

The candidates were also asked how they would attract quality educators.
Fischman said she would like the salary guidelines to be changed to give more money to teachers who are just starting out. She wanted an increase in teacher diversity and increased professional training.

Izurieta said she did not have an answer to that because it is only her second time running for the board, but Margaryan said she wants more teachers of color in the district, a good starting salary and greater mentorship for new teachers. She also would like to see more Bloomfield teachers who live in Bloomfield.

Morse said it was a difficult question and raising taxes was not an easy solution.
Smith said keeping teachers comes down to money and where to find it is a problem, but she would also like to see more “prep” time for teachers while they are at school.

Anderson also said the teachers’ salary guide and starting salaries have to be addressed, adding that he had been a Bloomfield teacher for 28 years.
“There are so many top-down mandates that make teaching less fun,” he said. “Teachers need more autonomy in the classroom.”
The candidates were asked if they would budget to the 2 percent cap.

Izurieta said she did not have an answer to the question and Morse said he is not willing to go to cap since the school district is receiving more state aid. But he is in favor of moving the school elections back to April, which would require voter approval of the budget. With school board elections currently taking place in November, the public does not vote on the budget.

“People don’t usually vote the school budget down,” Morse said. “The council doesn’t want massive cuts.”
But both Smith and Anderson said the budget should go to cap and are in favor of keeping the school elections in November.
“We’ve gotten more aid,” Anderson said, “but we’ve been underfunded. Why save $17 per taxpayer? People take their frustrations out on the school budget.”

Fischman said the state should let districts know before working on budgets how much aid the districts can anticipate. She also favors keeping board elections in November.
The candidates were then asked what is successful about Bloomfield education.

Margaryan said she found her personal experiences with Watsessing teachers to be good, but that the school needs more after-school activities.
“Watsessing is not as successful with fundraising as other schools,” she added.

Morse said at the high school there are wonderful courses, but in the eight elementary schools there is too much diversity in student achievement. Interventions are needed to narrow the achievement gap among elementary school students, he said.

Smith said the district is doing a pretty good job and Anderson said success happens when a student develops an appreciation for education and when teaching is inspired. He added that he would like to see more art programming.

Fischman said she cannot define success for a student, and that eliminating standardized tests is necessary.
Izurieta said she wanted more after-school programs and said she is happy when she sees her daughter singing and drawing.
In their closing remarks, Anderson said he has a background in education as a teacher and former Bloomfield BOE member.

“Every child is unique. Public education is preparing our next generation of leaders,” he said.
According to Fischman the district’s success is palpable.
“Look at the infrastructures and their improvement,” she said and asked people to contact their legislators with their concerns about education, as she does.

In closing, Izurieta asked for votes and gave her ballot position. Margaryan said that, if elected, she would make decisions that are best for children. Morse said he had prepared a closing statement, but that it would be anticlimactic, and Smith gave the ballot positions of the members of her slate, saying, “We’re the moms that will work for our kids.”

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