Brick Candidate Profile: Lois Turner

Profiles of the candidates for the Brick Township Board of Education are being presented for informational purposes.

Responses are unedited.

Candidate’s Name: Lois Turner

Employer/Job: finance manager in the insurance industry

How long have you lived in Brick? I have lived in Brick for 28 years

Have you ever held elected office or served as an appointee to any government board (where and when)?

I have never held an elected office or been an appointee.

1. With all the concerns that Brick students are not keeping pace academically with their peers, what do you feel is the best course of action to help them improve?

In order for our students to be more successful I feel that they need to be exposed to learning as early as possible. I would like to see a three and four year old program instituted for all of Brick’s children. We should also concentrate on offering more advanced placement and college level courses in our high schools. We should also partner more closely with our county vocational system to explore additional offerings for our students who are not looking to attend college upon graduation.

I also feel that the creation of academies within our high schools would serve two purposes. First keeping some of our best and brightest students from leaving the district for private schools and also as a possible way to attract tuition paying students to our district.

2. Governor Christie has said he wants to drop the state’s support of Common Core. Do you feel this will help or hurt the goal of improving students’ preparation for college and the working world?

While our Governor has said he intends to drop the state’s support of Common Core, it has not been done yet. Until that occurs we should continue to align our curriculum with Common Core. Even if dropped, our students will continue to be made to complete a rigorous curriculum that will prepare them for college or life after high school. Our focus should be on increased graduation rates, and offering a broad curriculum that will engage every student regardless of their interests or learning ability.

3. It’s no secret that residents of Brick (like so many towns) believe we are spending too much in taxes to support the schools. How do you propose to balance the voters’ desire for no increases with the needs of students and the buildings and grounds where they are educated? What is your top priority?

The past boards have done a great job of holding our tax increases to a minimum, all while vastly improving our facilities and technology. I intend to follow in their footsteps by looking for inefficiencies and wasteful spending without sacrificing programs.

4. Why (in 75 words or fewer) are you the best candidate for the school board?

I am the best candidate because of my strong financial background, currently within the insurance industry for the past 11 years and prior to that in government contracting. I am the wife of a long time educator and mother of children who have gone through our schools. I am a huge proponent of parent engagement as I feel it is an integral part of a student’s success. Please support the Talty, Campbell, Reid and Turner team.