Bernards Township School Board Election 2026: Janice Corrado

Why are you seeking reelection for the Bernards Township Board of Education?

I am seeking reelection to continue bringing an essential educator's voice to the Board and to ensure our decisions remain firmly focused on student and teacher success in the classroom. During my first term, I drew on my background as a veteran New Jersey public school teacher to contribute meaningfully across six key committees: Curriculum, Wellness, Technology, Personnel, Facilities and Operations, and Policy. Together, our Board navigated unprecedented statewide financial pressures through collaborative, fiscally responsible decision-making while safeguarding educational quality and student well-being. We successfully welcomed experienced Bernards Township educators into new leadership positions, including Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and Ridge High School Principal. I want to serve another term to build on this strong foundation, support our administrative leadership team, and advocate for our students, staff, and community over the next three years.

Transparency in government is important for the community. Do you feel the BOE is transparent, and how would you increase transparency?

Our Board of Education is committed to maintaining the highest level of transparency possible. To keep the entire community connected to our work and Board Forum discussions, all of our meetings are live-streamed.

Public comment sessions offer an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from residents. To help community members stay fully informed and prepare thoughtful questions, the Board publishes committee meeting minutes on our website prior to each Board meeting, detailing the ongoing work across all seven Board committees.

We also maintain active, ongoing dialogues with key groups across the district. Board members and administrators meet regularly with student and parent representatives through district-wide and school-level advisory committees, providing updates on district initiatives and gathering feedback from individual school communities. Additionally, we host regular BT Connect sessions that pair information sharing with interactive small-group discussions. Throughout the 2026-27 school year, these sessions will focus on re-evaluating our district's mission and vision statements alongside each school community to ensure they reflect our shared priorities and what matters most in a Bernards Township education.

To keep families informed, our updated district website serves as a comprehensive resource for curriculum details, programs, services, and parent education opportunities. Communication is further supported through weekly principal newsletters, monthly newsletters from the Superintendent, and timely email or text alerts when critical information needs to be shared. As technology continues to evolve, we welcome recommendations from educators, parents, and students on how we can further enhance our communication tools.

With rising healthcare costs and inflation, how do you propose keeping tax increases to a minimum?

The projected double-digit increase in healthcare costs for public school employees is crippling school districts statewide. While self-insuring has kept our increases to roughly half those of districts in the State School Employees Health Benefit Plan, these costs remain unsustainable. The Board is actively advocating in Trenton for legislative action to address these escalating expenses and protect our educational programs. Board members and our business administrator recently met with state legislators and submitted a formal Board resolution to the Governor and State representatives to urge meaningful healthcare reform. We will continue to pursue every opportunity to reduce healthcare cost burdens on our district.

To counter inflation, our business administrator and Finance Committee review budget projections and expenditures monthly, monitoring healthcare claims and maximizing prescription rebates. To address rising transportation costs, we implemented a triple-tiered busing schedule that generated substantial savings. Additionally, during this period of flat enrollment, we have right-sized staffing through attrition and retirements, with plans to re-evaluate as housing development projects impact enrollment. Our goal remains making judicious financial choices that protect classroom instruction.

There are several projects listed in the 10-year facilities plan, including roofs, HVAC, etc. How would you propose covering the expenses for these projects?

Just as home maintenance requires regular investment, our schools need continuous oversight to ensure safe, secure learning environments. Our ten-year facilities plan prioritizes essential capital projects in a tax-neutral manner that avoids increasing local taxes.

At the September 14th Board meeting, administrators presented The State of Our Schools, outlining expert-assessed needs for roofing, HVAC, electrical, and energy-efficiency improvements across all sites. At the upcoming September 28th BT Connect session, Financing Our Long-Term Infrastructure Needs, the district will explain how the school budget differs from the township's municipal budget and will present the various financing options the district is considering. The community will have the opportunity to review details, ask questions, and share feedback on the plan. Additional sessions are being scheduled to maximize community engagement.

To lower costs for capital projects, we actively leverage grants, including state ROD grants covering 40% of eligible project costs, and Direct Install programs offering up to 70% reimbursement for energy upgrades. While many grants require upfront capital reserve funding, reimbursements are received upon project completion.

What is your favorite thing about being a part of Bernards Township Schools?

As both a parent and a Board member, I deeply value the unique atmosphere of our schools, where students are welcomed, inspired, challenged, and appreciated. Guided by Superintendent Kristin Fox, our dedicated staff strives to rank Bernards Township schools among the finest in the state while cultivating a strong sense of community for everyone. Each year, the Board enjoys the elementary, middle, and high school showcases, which offer a firsthand look at our students' achievements and the impact of our district's programs.

Our outstanding educators actively pursue professional development to ensure their teaching aligns with New Jersey State Learning Standards and current educational best practices. Our facilities and operations team works diligently to keep our buildings and grounds clean, secure, and inviting. Our technology staff is equally devoted, promoting the ethical and responsible use of AI, social media, and chat platforms while regularly auditing devices and subscriptions for security and safety. The Board deeply appreciates all of these professionals for building environments where our students can thrive.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?

Serving our school community on the Bernards Township Board of Education is both a privilege and a profound honor. Over the past three years, our Board members have brought diverse perspectives to the table, engaging in thoughtful and respectful dialogue to navigate complex decisions and build consensus. Centering our efforts on student success allows us to collaborate efficiently in both committee work and general Board meetings as we evaluate and elevate our district's performance.

We place high value on the expertise of our administrative leadership, seeing our responsibility as one of active oversight—asking critical questions to ensure every dollar is spent purposefully and transparently on behalf of local taxpayers and our students. Ultimately, our goal is to maintain the standard of excellence that keeps Bernards Township Public Schools among the finest in the state.