SOUTH AMBOY – Five residents are on the ballot for three seats on the South Amboy Board of Education during the Nov. 6 election.
Competing for the three-year terms are incumbents John Dragotta, Lynn Kasics and Paula Taggart and newcomers David Grasso and Thomas Seig.
Grasso and Seig did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
Dragotta is a lifelong resident of South Amboy, where he lives with his wife Diane and his two daughters, who currently attend South Amboy High School.
He is employed by the Borough of Sayreville’s Sewer Department. He has been a member of the South Amboy Volunteer Fire Department for 38 years, serving as a 1st lieutenant, 2nd lieutenant, 3rd lieutenant and captain of the independence Fire Company South Amboy, and is a volunteer firefighter in Sayreville and is the former chief of the Madison Park Fire Company of Old Bridge. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Firefighters and on the Board of Directors for the Parlin Dupont Federal Credit Union. Dragotta has served on the board since 2009.
“I had seen that there weren’t enough people on the ballot to fill all the positions so I campaigned and was elected with write-in ballots. I followed in my father’s footsteps – he was a Board of Education member for the South Amboy Board of Education in the 1980s as well as being employed as a police officer for the town of South Amboy. It has been a tremendous and fulfilling experience to serve on the board. As you can see I have volunteered for almost three quarters of my life and I love doing this.
“Some of the things that are important to me as a board member is to make sure each and every child gets the best education that they can that they deserve. I also look forward to bringing back unity to the board, and the most important thing is to make sure every child in our district is never left behind, that our teachers have the best resources and support from the Board of Education. I also look forward to continuing my education through the New Jersey School Boards Association so I can continue to make a difference.”
Kasics has lived in South Amboy for 31 years. Both of her children are graduates of the South Amboy school system.
She worked for the City of South Amboy for 19 years and has been retired since 2015. She said she now devotes her time serving on the Board of Education and caring for her two young grandsons. Kasics has served on the board since 2009 and is currently the board’s vice president.
“When my children were school-aged, I was a head coach and director of the Midget Division of the former South Amboy Girls Softball League for four years,” Kasics said. “In addition, I also served as class parent for both of my children. I have been an active member in the Purple and Gold Club since 1999. I volunteer at the annual Friends of South Amboy Basketball Fundraising Event. For many years, I have also helped out by selling refreshments at the school plays as well as judging the annual Lip Sync.”
Kasics spoke about three issues and improvements to the district she would like to address during the next three years.
“We have many special education students whom, for various reasons, have to be educated at an out of district placement,” she said. “This is a financial burden to the taxpayers, as we pay their tuition and busing costs. For the last two years, we have had a successful Life Skills program at the middle/high school that has brought five students back into the district. In addition to this program, the elementary school now has a program for students exhibiting behavioral challenges. By working with the superintendent, the director of Special Services, and the rest of the board, I will work diligently to support recommendations for qualified teachers for more of these students, while creating new programs for them to flourish in our district.”
“I envision stronger engagement with the community by
partnering various student groups to create a relationship with
our local senior citizens and community veterans. This would
entail a Thanksgiving luncheon for the senior citizens in town
and a breakfast for our community veterans. Some of the groups
involved in this program would be the National Honor Society,
the History Club, the Life Skills class and the Music Department.
It would also be open to any student who would like to get
involved and donate their time. All of this would be coordinated
with the superintendent, the building administrator and
various club advisors. It’s a great way for the students to
connect with and give back to the community.
“I would like to explore partnerships with Middlesex County College, as well as expanding online learning opportunities,” she continued. “We have just started offering online courses at the high school. I would also like to enhance our partnership with the City of South Amboy to expand the opportunities for more high school internships in different departments within the city, including the possibility of some local businesses. These programs, as all programs that are implemented into the school district, are made possible with collaboration and joint effort between the superintendent and the full Board of Education, as the board acts as a unified single entity,” Kasics said.
Taggart has lived in South Amboy for 32 years. She is a mother of four children who have all gone through the South Amboy school system, and her youngest daughter currently attends South Amboy High School. She is currently a stay-at-home mother with time to volunteer for the community.
“Over the years I have been a Girl Scout assistant leader. While involved with South Amboy youth athletics, I was a team parent, former ladies auxiliary officer, and indoor soccer coordinator,” Taggart said. “While volunteering for the South Amboy PTO I was a class parent, served on many different committees, and was a former vice president. I also had the pleasure since 2010 to volunteer for the South Amboy High School Players.”
She has served on the Board of Education since 2009 and served as vice president of the board in 2017.
Taggart spoke about three issues or improvements she would like to address during the next three years.
“I would like to work with the superintendent to design a curriculum that would work for our small district and enhance our STEM program,” Taggart said. “I would like to expand assemblies/information to address social issues with our students such as mental awareness, suicide prevention and vaping. I would work with our superintendent and guidance counselors to find the best approach to address these critical and most important issues for our students and staff. I feel it is important to remove the stigma of not talking about these issues.”
“We have a large following in this sports program, but it needs the necessary equipment. This would include practice area, regulation track and equipment. Again, this would be working with the superintendent, athletic director, coach and fellow board members to make this come to fruition. This will be a long term project that may have to be done in phases,” Taggart said.
