Stephanus 'Iwan' Juwana: Bernards BOE Candidate Profile

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — There is a contested race for the Bernards Township Board of Education election this upcoming November election with five candidates vying for the three open seats.

Stephanus "Iwan" Juwana is one of five candidates running for the three, three-year seats in the election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The other four candidates include: Suzanne Schafer Skalski, Lauren Beckman, Ruchika S. Hira, and Karen Gray.

Here is a look at who Juwana is and why he is running. Candidates were asked to answer the same questions and each candidate profile will be posted on Patch's site as it gets closer to the election.

Stephanus "Iwan" Juwana

Describe yourself:

My name is Stephanus "Iwan" Juwana and I am running for Bernards Township BOE. We were drawn to Bernards Township in 2016 by its highly-rated school system, unique charm, and community spirit of "small-town U.S." We feel very fortunate to live in a community where people value education and neighbors help neighbors; a town where we are proudly raising our twin sons and daughter. Our sons are currently attending Cedar Hill elementary school.

Over the past 20 years, I have worked at several investment firms as a senior analyst and co-portfolio manager. Currently, I work as a senior industry analyst for a risk management firm focusing on retail credit analysis. As a naturalized U.S. citizen, I have a diverse background. I grew up in Indonesia, was educated in the Netherlands, and came to the U.S. for a graduate degree. I received an M.B.A. in Finance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands; and I also hold a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. I am fluent in English, Indonesian, Dutch, and conversational German.

Should I be fortunate enough to become a BOE member, I will hit the ground running in January 2020. I would be honored to have your support, your faith in me, and your vote on Nov. 5. Visit juwanaforboe.com for more information.

Why are you running for school board?

Being a Bernards Township resident and father of two elementary school children, I care about the integrity and management of our school district. I want to make sure that the school district has a balanced budget that does not cut into vital resources which will compromise the quality of education. The bottom line: Bernards Township school district must be competitive without sacrificing quality.

Over the past five years, I observed that the school budget has risen cumulatively by 9.3 percent while enrollment has declined by 10.5 percent. There should be a positive correlation between a rise in enrollment and an increased budget. So, I propose that we should have an honest, careful review of the school’s budget. Further, taxpayers deserve to know, be actively involved, and have confidence that their money is being used wisely.

Further, in the Bernards Township School System, we need to address challenges and explore opportunities in all areas of academic, technical, vocational, and special education to enable our students to meet the challenges of tomorrow. I would like to be an advocate for your children in all areas covered under the school district umbrella such as curriculum, security, sports, activities, clubs, social events, STEM, emotional health, drug/vaping concerns, the pending drop or A/B schedule as well as the school construction at Ridge High School and more. Additionally, we should also have appropriate expectations of our children while being sensitive to the stresses they feel. This is an area of special concern for me.

Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?

I want to be a voice for all of those I represent in the community and I do not take this opportunity lightly. I want to help ALL students to succeed in life regardless of their home environment, cultural background, academic struggles, or the need for more academic rigor.

As my children are still in elementary school, I am committed to being here for the long haul. We have a great district filled with diversity, and I want to be a unifier in taking down labels and opening lines of communication for the common good.

Further, my finance skills and diverse background make me well-suited to play an active role in maintaining and improving the school’s academic standards of excellence. I have the ability to analyze facts and make choices that are sound financially.

What are some issues you would like to address if elected?

My focused goals for the school district:

1. All-Voices
   1. Hear constituents’ voices, including parents, teachers, students, and taxpayers.
   2. Encourage voters to actively engage in public discussion to decide what their highest priorities are and the best use of their taxes.
2. Respect for all diversity of thought
   1. Promote and respect the diversity of thought in the classroom, develop critical & independent thinking, and nurture intellectual inquisitiveness.
3. Empower parents through transparency
   1. Empower parents to be actively involved with their children’s education through transparency of the curriculum and daily activities in the classroom
   2. Respect parental authority and rights to make decisions regarding their children’s education and overall health (physical & emotional).
4. Accountability
   1. Fight for full disclosure and discussion of all proposed budgets, capital improvement plans, contracting strategies, non-critical expenditures with voters as the ultimate decision-makers.
   2. Invest financial resources on projects that will have a positive impact on our students and reduce wasteful spending.
   3. Maintain fiduciary obligations to the voters of Bernards Township first and foremost.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the election profile, email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

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