Brick Candidate Profile: Walt Campbell

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

Responses are unedited.

Candidate’s Name: Walt Campbell

Employer/Job: Retired teacher/coach.

How long have you lived in Brick? 28 years.

Have you ever held elected office or served as an appointee to any government board (where and when)?
I was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Brick Board of Education from 6/28/10 – 12/30/11. I was also elected to the Point Pleasant Board of Education, serving from 1983-1986.

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?

We want Brick students to be competitive overall, not just among state-determined peer groups. Younger students would benefit from a district-wide Preschool program, and older students would excel academically with Subject Academies.

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?

The Common Core Standards were designed to make sure students share a basic, minimum set of standards in English language arts/literacy and mathematics. As a district, we should have high expectations for all our students that exceed what is required by the Common Core standards. We have a responsibility to provide our students with a competitive education; the state’s opinion of Common Core should not have a bearing on that. Our students WILL be successful if we provide them with that competitive education.

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?

A good school system not only creates high achieving students, but it improves the overall reputation of a town, makes it more desirable, and raises property values. I have personally been heavily involved in the recent upgrades to our district facilities, both when I served on the Board of Education and as a citizen volunteer. I have a great deal of expertise in this area, and I am knowledgeable about energy savings programs, grants, and state funding opportunities that we have used, and should continue to use, to fund additional upgrades.

These programs allow the district to make improvements without just passing the costs on to taxpayers through tax hikes and referendums. My record in this area speaks for itself! My top priority is to continue the many upgrades we have done over the past few years, especially in HVAC upgrades and safety initiatives.

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

I bring extensive experience as a retired educator, 28-year resident, former BOE member, coach, facilities expert, parent, and grandparent. Unlike other candidates, I have no political past or aspirations. I want to serve for the benefit of my town and the students. I have spent my entire adult life educating students and serving my community. My goal is to continue recent progress in academics and facilities (not at taxpayer expense). Thank you for your vote!