PLATFORM
"The Voice of Reason is in us all...and everyone can recognize it because it makes sense and everyone benefits from it equally." ~ Bill Hicks"
BETH'S PLATFORM
Refocusing the Board on Student-Centered Priorities
Beth believes:
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Board members have the responsibility to ensure that they are representing the majority views and opinions of their constituencies.
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Personal agendas only prevent the Board from allocating precious time to addressing important matters facing students and staff.
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Transparency of District matters through dialogue and debate at open Board meetings so that the public can be aware of the matters being discussed by the Board.
Beth will continue to fight for transparency and discourse at open Board meetings and advocate for the use of Board meetings for student centered priorities.
Supporting the New Strategic Plan
After engaging with staff, students, and the community, the District is launching its new 5-year Strategic Plan. Beth supports this initiative to guide the development of an action plan that targets the curriculum, instruction, and student success for the future. Beth's key priorities in this area include:
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Evaluating Artificial Intelligence - how it can be utilized by staff to create efficiencies and by students in a way that enhances the educational experience.
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Understanding what is needed to recruit and retain educators and staff in the District.
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Enhancing communications with the public to ensure transparency of District matters.
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Ensuring best in class facilities and programs that foster a school environment that encourages a culture of student learning.
Revitalizing Performing Arts in Education
Growing up playing the flute throughout High School and as a Music Major at Skidmore College, Beth has a strong belief in performing arts being fundamental in education. The performing arts programs in our District are seeing a decline in participation. The loss of any of these programs at our schools would be detrimental to maintaining a balanced education for all students. Beth's key priorities for addressing these issues include:
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Ensuring that the performing arts programs in the District are receiving proportionate financial support.
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Continuing to ask the Board and the Superintendent to raise the issue of student participation in performing arts at the lower and sending school districts at articulation meetings.
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Encourage greater outreach by the District performing arts teachers to encourage greater participation in these programs.
Facilities for the Future
North Hunterdon High School opened its doors in 1951, making the school 74 years old. Voorhees High School opened in 1975, making it exactly 50 years old this year. The teachers and students of today and in the not too distant future have different needs in the classroom and programs than 50+ years ago. In addition, changes in weather and climate have caused higher temperatures during the early and late months of the school year.
Beth believes that now is the time to begin considering the following:
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Assessment of budget to look for savings that can be applied to future facility improvements.
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Look for grants from federal and state resources.
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Evaluate what technology resources are currently available in each of the High Schools to determine what may be needed over the next 5-7 years.
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Understand what other high school districts in New Jersey are doing to prepare for the needs of high schools in the future.
Protecting Students' Rights to Read
Beth supports the passage and implementation of New Jersey’s Freedom to Read Act. She believes that it is important to preserve student access to diverse literature. As a lawyer for 28 years, she has never stopped fighting for what is right. In this regard, Beth will:
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Fight against censorship in our high schools.
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Ensure that our students have access to read all literature, regardless of whether one may oppose its message or content,
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Champion the right to think, learn, and express ideas freely.
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Protect the integrity of education and the freedom to learn without fear or bias and support policies that resist ideological interference in education.