Three members of the Upper Freehold Regional School District Board of Education are seeking re-election to three available three-year terms in the Nov. 7 election.
Of the board’s nine members, seven are residents and representatives of Upper Freehold Township and two are residents and representatives of Allentown. Board members appear on the ballot in the municipality they represent.
The terms of board members Patrick Nolan of Upper Freehold, Timothy Stolzenberger of Upper Freehold and Kurt Wayton of Allentown will end in December. All three men are running to remain on the board.
For the two available seats representing Upper Freehold, Nolan will be on the ballot and Stolzenberger is seeking re-election as a write-in candidate.
For the one available seat representing Allentown, Wayton will be on the ballot.
Nolan is a portfolio strategist with BlackRock and has lived in Upper Freehold for 14 years. He joined the board in 2011.
“Our district has made tremendous strides in the past decade,” Nolan said. “Curriculum has been revamped and the district now offers so many high level opportunities to the kids of our community. I am proud to have been part of that effort for the past six years and I feel like we can do even more.
“I am proud we have raised the learning experience for our kids without simply ‘throwing money at it.’ We have had to cut millions from the budget in each of the past four years while finding ways to make the district stronger. Continuing to advance the educational experience of our kids in a fiscally responsible manner is what motivates me.
“I have spent 20 years working in the asset management industry for both Merrill Lynch and BlackRock, and have also earned the designation of chartered financial analyst,” he said. “My finance background and training has allowed me to take a leading role on the finance committee for our board. My professional management responsibilities have also helped me to contribute to personnel discussions, contract negotiations, and policy decision making.”
Nolan said three areas of focus for him moving forward will be enhancing communication with the community regarding transparency of the school budget, ensuring that the school district continues to push ahead in offering curriculum that aligns with the modern economy and preserving the district’s class sizes while updating the infrastructure.
Stolzenberger is a user experience architect with the New Jersey-based software company iCMIS and has lived in Upper Freehold for 11 years. He joined the board in 2015.
“I care deeply about the quality of education for each child in the district, including a focus on individual achievement, access to resources and creating a safe, happy environment conducive to learning,” Stolzenberger said. “Volunteerism and giving back to my community are very important to me and I want to model these values for my children.
“I have held senior level professional roles which help me to understand the challenges of budgeting, planning and people management. I understand the skills and disciplines needed by students to thrive when they enter this environment.”
Stolzenberger said three areas of focus for him will be prioritizing the best educational experience for students in the most fiscally responsible way possible, growing a stronger relationship between the board and the community by building awareness of the needs of the district and the challenges associated with meeting those needs, and ensuring the district’s academic offering is as strong as possible to prepare students for college and the workforce.
Wayton is a teacher at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South and has lived in Allentown for five years. He joined the board in 2015.
“As an educator, I think it is my duty to influence policy,” Wayton said. “Education is both my profession and passion. I want to ensure that Allentown continues to build on our excellence.
“I received my undergraduate degree from Indiana State University in social studies education in 2000 and studied special education in The College of New Jersey’s graduate program. I have been teaching and coaching at the high school level for 18 years. I am a tireless and dedicated steward of education. I believe teaching is among the world’s most important professions.”
Wayton said three areas of focus for him will be promoting progress while maintaining well-balanced courses of study at the district’s schools, helping to maintain a harmonious and collaborative relationship with Upper Freehold Regional’s sending district (the Millstone Township K-8 School District, which sends students to Allentown High School) and supporting and enhancing extracurricular programs.
