Bridgewater-Raritan School Board Election 2023: Rebecca Hassouna

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater-Raritan Regional Board of Education general election on Nov. 7 has seven candidates running for three open seats representing Bridgewater and one open seat representing Raritan.

Rebecca Hassouna is running for one of the three, three-year full-term seats representing Bridgewater.

Opposing candidates include incumbent Barry R. Walker, Jarrett Hahn, and Hector Menendez. Harini Rajagopalan withdrew her name and will not be running this year anymore.

There is also one, three-year unexpired seat representing Raritan open. Candidates include Umesh Agrawal, incumbent Michael M. Pepe, and Jeffrey McNally.

Additionally, there is a referendum question on the ballot. Voters previously approved the first part of the District's referendum in March to make significant renovations to district-wide schools and to have full-day kindergarten.

The second question appearing on the ballot in November will ask the two communities to approve the total operating costs of the full-day kindergarten for $2.46 million.

Are you running for office in Bridgewater? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Bridgewater Patch.

Rebecca Hassouna

Age: 52

Town of residence: Bridgewater

Position sought: BRRSD Board of Education

Family: husband Kim, Daughter Juliana (20) at the University at Buffalo, Mia (15) sophomore at BRRHS

Education: Bachelor of Science from Penn State University, Bound Brook High School

Occupation: Self-Employed at Catering Solutions. My husband and I own our own business in town. We specialize in individually packaged lunches for schools and daycares. During the pandemic, we also opened a restaurant, Lobster Alley.

Previous or current elected appointed office: none

Campaign website: facebook.com/Rebecca4BOE

Why are you seeking election on the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education?

I have been eager to run for years now, but between growing a business and parenting two young children, my plate was full. Now that my girls are older, I am in a position to volunteer more of my time to our community. I have seen how partisan many of the other boards and races have become in NJ and across the country and I would like to have a hand in making sure that does not happen in Bridgewater. No matter anyone's political persuasion, committing to a Board of Education position especially should be done with an open mind and pure intentions. I have attended many meetings throughout these past 15 years while my children have been in school and know that I can make a positive difference. Besides my experience as a parent in the district, I have experience volunteering with our Township Recreation Department and the Bridgewater MOMS Club. In my past professional experience as a meeting planner, I spent most of my time negotiating contracts both domestic and international. My current business has given me insight into decision making and best practices at over 70 private and public schools and preschools in NJ.

The second portion of the referendum will go up for a vote in November. Are you in
favor of this? Why or why not?

I am definitely in favor of the referendum. Our district is one of fewer than 10 in the state that do not offer full-day Kindergarten. The state curriculum for Kindergarten is based on a full-day program, which has to be curtailed to fit into our shortened day. Many play-based experiences and best practices have time allowed in the day. Many parents also have to seek out private full-day options to accommodate work schedules. In addition, a local real estate agent in Bridgewater published a piece about home values and having a full-day Kindergarten will make Bridgewater an even more desirable place to live, thereby maintaining or increasing our home values.

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?

Transportation is a massive endeavor. It is our children's first school contact as well as the riskiest part of their day. We count on the Transportation department with their well-being both mentally and physically. While 99% of the time, our buses run smoothly, the challenges that some children and families have faced stand out more than any positives. The size of our district demands that we use contracted transportation following proper state bidding procedures. That means having new companies engaged and steep learning curves. We need to do better at flattening those curves and anticipating problems before they occur. Listening to parent feedback at meetings these past few weeks since school started, it is obvious that their concerns have been taken seriously and have warranted swift response. Busses are being fitted with GPS to help combat issues. I support the Board’s measure thus far and look forward to the transportation consultant coming back this year to assist the district further. If given the opportunity, I hope to be a part of the transportation committee to help direct that change.

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?

School safety is always at the forefront of school planning. My oldest child was in 1st grade during Sandy Hook. I lived in fear, along with the rest of the country that year, and demanded answers of our district. The size of our schools is daunting, we have thousands of children and staff, multiple locations, hundreds upon hundreds of doors, and an open campus high school. I have always appreciated knowing and counting on our Superintendent and Board of Education to make every effort to keep our children safe. This year in particular, I feel like a visible and positive difference is in effect. I have seen the new security staff on-site during drop-off. I greatly appreciate that the majority are in plain clothes and do not lend the feeling of a "police state" while still instilling a sense of protection. At last week’s Board of Education meeting, we were introduced to the entire team and heard an overview about their work and plans. It was very encouraging to hear of the vast experience of our security team and about their daily communication with our Police Department. That type of communication is vital.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the district?

The communication between our school district and our township seems contentious. I would encourage all stakeholders to meet on a regular basis, in a non-partisan manner for the good of our children. Their safety, well-being, and education have to direct everything we do and everything we plan. Another issue to be tackled is communication between the Board and the community. I will encourage everyone to attend the monthly meetings, either virtually or in person, as the information is enlightening. There is a need for transparency, and that need can often be fulfilled by attending meetings. I am also hopeful that the new district newsletter will assist as more and more residents opt to receive it. I have it linked on my Facebook page as well.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

I have been volunteering in our schools and our community since I first moved here in 2006. I have been a classroom mother and member of the PTO's almost as long. I have interacted with staff at many schools, run multiple events and fundraisers, and offered my time whenever needed. I have volunteered as a basketball coach for a number of years for the township and was President of the MOMS Club when my children were younger. I have done all of this while working as well. In addition, I have spent the past 6 months in training sessions and seminars touching on many board of education topics including book banning, teachers unions, non-partisan campaigning, as well as a Candidates Briefing conducted by the NJ School Boards Association. I look forward to the opportunity to put my preparation, education and experience to good use. In addition, the two bracketed challengers appear to have been endorsed by an extremist organization that supports book banning and "parents' choice" to the point of taking choice away from the majority of parents. I encourage everyone to know exactly who they are voting for in this critical election.

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

I fully support Public Education. I support our students, I support our teachers, I support our parents and I support our stakeholders. I promise to do my absolute best to be a voice for all.