Bernards Township School Board Election 2023: David Shaw

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township's general election on Nov. 7 has six candidates running for three open seats for the Board of Education.

David Shaw is running for one of the three, three-year seats along with Janice Corrado. Opposing candidates include Lawrence Rascio, Deborah Marus, and Erin Weber (who are running as a team), and Jennifer White.

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David Shaw

Age: 47

Town of residence: Bernards Township

Position sought: Board of Education Member

Family: Wife/Lindsay, Two Children – Brielle/8 – Avery/5

Education: Bachelor of Science Rutgers New Brunswick

Occupation: Accountant/CPA

Previous or current elected appointed office: N/A

Campaign website: corradoshaw.com

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

Like so many others, my wife and I moved to this community nine years ago, drawn by the promise of excellent schools. Today, as parents of two daughters attending Cedar Hill School, I am committed to enhancing the quality of our school system.

I’m running for the board of education to keep our schools strong, vibrant, and accessible to every child who walks through their doors. This means prioritizing fiscal responsibility without compromising our children’s well-being and learning experiences. It’s about nurturing an environment in which teachers and administrators thrive, knowing they are valued, appreciated, and supported.

As a certified public accountant (CPA) and the VP of finance at Lincoln Technical Institute, I’ve spent two decades honing my skills in budgeting and financial management in a school setting. A strong school system means allocating resources effectively, not making arbitrary budget cuts that diminish educational quality. I am committed to finding innovative ways to manage our money efficiently, eliminating waste while ensuring that every dollar spent directly benefits our students.

I also recognize that our teachers and administrators are the backbone of our schools. We need to create a supportive and non-hostile environment where educators are motivated to stay and grow within our district, because without them our school system cannot function.

I’ve been deeply concerned about what I’ve observed during board meetings over the past year. It’s disheartening to witness a board majority that prioritizes personal ideologies over the well-being of our children. Ethical governance requires adherence to established policies and the oath of office. I’m determined to bring my integrity and accountability to the board.

Transportation is a statewide issue. Do you feel transportation issues are being handled well by the Board? Why or why not? If not, how do you propose improving it?

The school administration is aware that there is a shortage of buses and bus drivers which is causing increases in the cost to our district as well as a multitude of other problems. In addition, there are studies that examine the impact of early start times for our high school students and conclude they have a dramatic impact on academic performance. The transportation challenges facing our school district are very complex, with many factors to consider. I believe the focus should be on finding a solution that prioritizes the well-being of our students and the efficiency of our school operations. I believe a thorough evaluation of all available options is essential. This started with a BT Connect meeting this year, but that was just the beginning. I encourage the board to look at all options, including assessing the feasibility of buying buses and hiring drivers. While consolidating routes could be a solution, careful consideration must be given to its impact on students’ commute times and safety. Engaging stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and community members, is critical as the administration needs to weigh all factors so they understand of how alterations to school schedules can affect daily routines.

Prioritizing the well-being of our students is so important. Any changes such as adjustments in school start times must consider the implications on students’ sleep patterns, academic performance, and overall health. While the impact on the budget must and should be considered, this cannot compromise the fundamental needs of our students. We need to review the impact on extracurricular activities to ensure that all students can continue to engage in activities without disruption. Transportation is indeed a significant concern, and I believe there is room for improvement.

Security at schools remains a high priority. Are you happy with the district’s security plan for students and staff? If not, what would be your alternative?

The most important responsibility of our district is to keep our kids safe. The district has added and continues to add security measures as recommended by our police department and school safety officers, including armed (retired) police officers in all our schools. We should regularly meet with experts who help us evaluate whether the physical security of the schools is at appropriate levels, including access control, surveillance systems, and alarm systems.

In addition to physical safety, mental health support is key to keeping students safe. It is extremely important to invest in counselors and social workers to ensure students’ emotional well-being and ward off crises. An inclusive and respectful school culture which includes programs to combat bullying and teach conflict resolution would assist in keeping our students and staff safe in school.

Censorship of books and curriculum has recently risen as a topic of discussion on the Board. How do you feel about how the Board is handling this?

The school board’s role is to review and approve all textbooks. However, the board’s decision to reject two different sociology books appears to be based on personal ideologies rather than expert teachers’ recommendations. When the board members voiced their objections, the teachers reviewed the objections and rebutted each of them with facts and studies. The board ignored the teachers’ responses and voted against the book. If the board members felt there were certain sections of the book that they did not agree with, they could have asked the teachers to use alternate materials to teach those materials.

There are currently very few sociology textbooks sold for high school level students, and our district has now rejected two of them. Due to the rejection of the books, the school has no choice but to continue to use an outdated textbook that is on a college level, so it does not meet the needs of all the students who take the elective class. Decisions regarding curriculum materials should be guided by educational expertise and a commitment to fostering critical thinking among students. I believe the school board should be emphasizing the importance of expert input, encouraging open dialogue, and ensuring that decisions are grounded in educational merit and the best interests of the students, rather than personal beliefs.

Trust and transparency are a high priority for voters. Do you feel the Board is transparent or how would you like the Board to improve this?

The current actions within the school board raise significant concerns about transparency and
collaboration. Actions including private email exchanges between certain board members and surprise motions undermine the principles of open governance and inclusivity. Transparency is so important to gain public trust, and it is clear that these actions do not align with the expectations of the community. To improve transparency, the board should review all policies and the oath of office that they swore to. I would suggest the board strengthen lines of communication to ensure that all members are informed equally.

I have been involved in many board meetings in my career, and the current structure of our board is in direct contrast to my expectations of working in an open and collaborative process. I believe we need to share access to relevant information beforehand and encourage open and collaborative discussions. It is very productive to have multiple viewpoints as that helps foster a deeper understanding, generates more ideas, and avoids bias and assumptions. However, if only board members that share your ideologies are included in your discussion, that can lead to a diminished educational experience for students. Transparency must be actively practiced to rebuild public trust and the values of our school board.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled on the school board?

I believe some of the biggest challenges our students face today are related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and social and emotional learning. Given the impact the pandemic had on our children and that social media continues to have on our children, we need to have a partnership between our schools and our parents to tackle these challenges.

Our schools have added additional resources and programs to tackle these issues; however, they
continue to persist and grow. We have seen this through surveys and the number of harassment,
intimidation, and bullying incidents our schools have reported. I believe we need to allocate enough resources, including additional counselors, to meet the needs of our students. I suggest we add additional training for our teachers and staff and integrate programs into our curriculum. I have heard firsthand from parents who believe the curriculum and teachers reinforce bias about certain religions and groups of people. I was appalled to hear that this is still going on in today’s society, and we need to fix this. We can invest in additional professional development for our teachers to enhance their understanding of diverse cultures and social and emotional developments. We also need to encourage parents and students to speak out whenever they witness these issues. The board should ensure that the schools’ policies promote inclusivity, diversity, and emotional well-being.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

My candidacy for the school board is distinguished by my being a CPA who works in a school setting. With my financial acumen and deep understanding of educational institutions, I have the background to analyze budgets while putting kids’ needs first. In addition, my perspective as a parent with young children attending the schools that I want to serve demonstrates my long-term dedication to the district.

As a deeply concerned parent who prioritizes students, I can help strengthen our schools which in turn will improve our property values. In addition, I strongly believe we need to bring this community and school board back together, so we can work collaboratively and set an example to all of our kids and our community. I will be able to bridge the ideological gap and refocus the board’s attention on the needs of the students. By emphasizing collaboration, respect and a commitment to educational excellence, I can help create a more productive decision-making process that benefits the entire community.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

N/A