FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Six candidates are seeking four available terms on the Freehold Township K-8 School District Board of Education in the Nov. 7 election.
Three three-year terms and one one-year unexpired term will be up for grabs in the election, with the terms of board members Michael Amoroso, Edward Hudak, Michelle Lambert and Mary Cozzolino ending in December.
The candidates seeking the three-year terms are Amoroso, Hudak, Lambert, Michael Matthews and Pierina Pantano.
Cozzolino is running unopposed for the one-year unexpired term.
Amoroso owns a kitchen and bath design center in Freehold Township and has lived in the township for 16 years. Prior to working in the areas of architecture, home design and construction, he spent 10 years as a design engineer for companies including AT&T and Lucent Technologies. He joined the board in 2011.
“I am seeking re-election because I feel it is important to our school district to maintain as many passionate, experienced board members as possible,” Amoroso said. “It takes quite some time to build a solid understanding of our school district.
“I am also an active member of the New Jersey School Boards Association where I am able to receive the latest updates on school law and current issues facing New Jersey school districts. Most of all, I am seeking re-election because I enjoy participating in the advancement of our school system here in Freehold Township.
“I think my educational background [bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering], along with how I have been using my skills in my business, gives me the ability to help the board make sound and carefully prepared goals and policies,” he said. “The current trend toward STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) in education makes me ever more valuable as I have a vast amount of knowledge in the area of science, technology, engineering and math.”
If re-elected, Amoroso said three areas of focus for him will be ensuring that the community has its voice heard when creating the future of the district, maintaining fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget, and seeking an open line of communication between the district’s teacher and administrators.
Hudak is currently a security officer for Monmouth County and previously worked as an police officer in Rahway for 30 years, spending his last five years as the city’s police chief. A resident of Freehold Township for 29 years, Hudak is the school board’s liaison to the Freehold Municipal Alliance. He joined the board in 2014.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years as a member of the board. I have learned so much during my time on the board and I feel that I bring a different and unique perspective to our meetings and discussions,” Hudak said. “Our board conducts itself in an extremely professional manner and everyone has the needs of our children in mind when making difficult decisions. I am hopeful to continue participating for at least another three years.
“I believe my background in public administration, serving as a member of the rank and file of the police department, as well as a member of the police administration, allows me to have a better understanding of the internal politics of both groups. As police chief, I led a department of over 100 employees (sworn officers and civilians) with a $6 million budget and I was intimately involved with negotiating contracts with various labor unions.
“I believe my management skills in the areas of budgeting, purchasing and human resources helps me as I serve on the board,” he said.
If re-elected, Hudak said three areas of focus for him will be following through with the district’s security upgrade project to ensure that students and staff are as safe as possible, improving the infrastructure of the district’s buildings, and maintaining the district’s quality of education with a budget that is economically responsible to taxpayers and students.
Lambert, who is serving as the board’s vice president for 2017, is an attorney and has lived in Freehold Township for 25 years. She joined the board in 2010.
“I am seeking re-election to continue the work of this board, to provide a balanced environment for our students that is not only safe, but one which fosters learning, character building and preparation for high school, college and life, and the 21st century, all while being vigilant and conscious of the taxpayer dollars that fund our schools,” Lambert said.
“I feel my roles as a parent and a lawyer help bring both a humanistic and critical thinking function to the board. I research all issues brought before the board before making judgments. I truly balance what is in the best interests of the students with my responsibility to be fiscally prudent.”
If re-elected, Lambert said areas of focus for her will be researching and addressing the state funding formula and how it affects Freehold Township and its taxpayers, and fostering more community involvement in board meetings.
Matthews is a math teacher at Freehold Township High School in the Freehold Regional High School District, where he has worked for 15 years, and has resided in the township for more than eight years. He has been involved with the Freehold Soccer League for seven years as a recreation coach and group coordinator.
“I am seeking a seat because I believe I have a perspective that would be important for any board of education,” he said. “I want to continue to improve the schools in Freehold Township.
“For 15 years, I have been a high school math teacher. I currently teach Advanced Placement computer science, statistics and honors pre-calculus. This affords me a unique perspective on many issues that would be invaluable to any board. I know how decisions that are made at the board level affect students.
“I also have an enormous amount of experience in developing curricula and working with school-based technology platforms,” he said. “Finally, I understand that a positive relationship between the board, superintendent, staff and residents is crucial in order to maximize the potential of our schools.”
If elected, Matthews said three areas of focus for him will be continuing to improve the lines of communication between all stakeholders in the district, ensuring that technology is being used appropriately and identifying cost-effective ways of improving school facilities.
Pantano is the president and CEO of NJ Gateway Credit Union and the vice chair of the Freehold Township Education Foundation Board of Trustees. She has lived in Freehold Township for seven years. Earlier this year, Pantano sought to fill a vacant seat on the board.
“I really feel I can make a difference,” she said while seeking the open seat. “I am a stakeholder as a parent in the district and my prior experience can help make a difference and make a great school district even better.”
Pantano did not respond to requests for additional comment.
Cozzolino has lived in Freehold Township for six years. She was appointed to the school board earlier this year to fill a vacant seat. Her previous experience as an elected official includes serving on the Township Committee in Manalapan.
“I am seeking election because I have a deep commitment to education and to the township,” Cozzolino said. “This is the town where my husband and I chose to raise our family and educate our kids. I believe in the quality education that the township has historically offered its youngest residents, earning it a reputation as an excellent school district. I want to be a part of growing this reputation. I have concerns about personalized learning and the impacts of technology on the education of the district’s children, as well as the district’s finances.
“First and foremost, I am a mom,” she said. “I continue to be actively involved in my kids’ education. I know firsthand the extraordinary work the district staff does every day to produce active, engaged and educated young people. I also have seen the new programs and initiatives in action, which affords me an interesting perspective in setting policy.
“As a young (elected official in Manalapan), I evaluated, modified and approved public budgets. As a public relations professional, I worked with clients to help them understand the legislative environment and get their message out to decision makers.
“As assistant commissioner of public affairs of the state Department of Banking and Insurance, I tackled tough issues, working with senior staff to reform auto insurance and address the medical malpractice insurance crisis affecting New Jersey at the time. I worked directly with the commissioner to improve the department’s public outreach efforts and responsiveness to consumers.
“Additionally, I worked with the special needs population as a paraprofessional at a school for kids with behavioral issues and as supervisor of Manalapan Recreation’s summer special recreation program,” Cozzolino said.
If elected, Cozzolino said three areas of focus for her will be computers and screen time of district students, personalized learning, and special education.
