Bridgewater-Raritan School Board Election 2023: Umesh Agrawal

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.

Umesh Agrawal is running for the one, three-year seat representing Raritan. Opposing candidates include incumbent Michael M. Pepe and Jeffrey McNally.

There are also three, three-year full-term seats representing Bridgewater open. Candidates include Barry R. Walker, Rebecca Hassouna, Jarrett Hahn, and Hector Menendez. Harini Rajagopalan withdrew her name and will not be running this year anymore.

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.

Umesh Agrawal

Age: 63

Town of residence: Raritan

Position sought: BRRSD Board of Education (BOE)

Family: Married for 40 years and together raised 3 children with an emphasis on higher education & specialization; They all graduated from B-R Schools; 2 Grandchildren

Education: MBA & BSc. Engineering (Mechanical)

Occupation: Finance Director at Johnson & Johnson

Previous or current elected appointed office: Raritan Library Board of Trustees

Campaign website: Not applicable

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

We are a long-term resident of Bridgewater-Raritan, having moved here in 1995 primarily for its excellent school system. All three of our children graduated from Bridgewater-Raritan schools with very good education that prepared them for successful higher education and professional careers. However, we have noticed a decline in the quality of education in BRSD over the years, despite increasing taxes. This observation is supported by benchmarking data and performance statistics provided by the school district.

I am running for the Board of Education to reverse this declining trend and ensure that our students continue to receive the best, well-rounded educational and developmental opportunities. Achieving this goal will require prudent financial management of our budgets, allowing us to invest more in educational programs and opportunities for our students. I bring professional finance experience and acumen to the table, enabling the board to prioritize investments in educational excellence over non-value-added administrative activities.

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

The concept of a full-day kindergarten is commendable and I support it, but I disagree the way it is being approached for the referendum.

Firstly, transparency is crucial! The board should adopt a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) strategy, similar to what corporations use for major initiatives. This means accounting for not only initial implementation costs but also ongoing operational expenses, potential overhead increases, and the impact of inflation. We should also consider any transportation related challenges under a full-day kindergarten program. Our current transportation system faces challenges and adding full-day kindergarten could worsen the situation. Sharing the complete cost, tax implications and all pros & cons with taxpayers is essential for informed decision-making.

Secondly, after full transparency and analysis if the referendum passes, execution should be well-planned and forward-looking. We must consider any excess capacity in our elementary school network and long-term enrollment projections for BRRSD to ensure responsible use of taxpayer funds.

Additionally, it’s vital to ensure that full-day kindergarten maintains its educational focus and doesn’t become a daycare program. We should prioritize age-appropriate cognitive development opportunities for our kindergartners.

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?

Our current transportation situation is undeniably unacceptable. I had the opportunity to attend the Sept. 12 Board meeting as a Raritan resident and watched the recording of the Sept. 26 meeting. During these meetings, concerned parents shared their harrowing experiences of their children left on the bus unattended for extended period without any communication from the transportation department. As mentioned in the earlier question regarding full-day kindergarten, if the referendum passes, it will add additional stress to our transportation system. These incidents and potential future challenges, emphasize the urgency of addressing transportation issues for the safety and well-being of our students.

In this technology-driven age, the inability to provide safe and timely transportation of our students is inexcusable. Some school districts are already using advanced technology, such as bus surveillance and GPS systems for safe and timely transportation of their students. If they can implement these systems successfully, why can’t we?

If elected to the Board of Education, I am committed to making substantial improvements to our
transportation system and enhancing communication with our 3rd party vendor. I will advocate for equipping all our buses with interconnected video systems, allowing remote monitoring of the interior. This measure will ensure that school authorities can verify that all students are picked up, transported safely, and dropped off on time.

Moreover, the delayed response from the bus company compounds the seriousness of our transportation issues. Implementing a ‘Service Level Agreement’ with the transportation company, prioritizing responses to bus or student whereabouts calls, and setting up specific limits for call returns will help address this concern efficiently.

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?

I find it difficult to answer this question since I’m not privy to the district’s current security plans for students and staff, and it’s understandable for the safety and security of everyone involved. However, based on the public information available, it appears that there is a disagreement between the school and township administration regarding security matters.

In my opinion, it’s crucial for both parties to collaborate and find solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of our students and staff. It’s evident that all stakeholders have the right intentions, and resolving this issue requires open dialogue and conflict resolution to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. It takes dialogue and conflict resolution to find a win & win solution for everyone.

It doesn’t make any sense for the school district to hire its own security team while our township already has the infrastructure. It causes unnecessary duplication of resources which can be invested in education and development of our students.

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

The other critical issues demanding attention on the school board are lack of transparency, declining education standard and inefficient utilization of taxpayers’ funds.

During my campaign, the lack of transparency emerged as a significant concern. Our constituents have expressed frustration and disappointment due to the limited communication from the Board of Education. This lack of communication has been evident in various situations, such the handling of in-person classes post-COVID, the school board’s stance on NJ policy 5756, and the upcoming full-day kindergarten referendum.

Another concern that I’ve heard from our residents is related to declining education standard. No doubt BRRSD is a good school system. However, I am concerned about declining education standard. In the recent US News High School ranking, our high school was ranked #74 in NJ whereas 10 years ago it was ranked #35. As one parent framed it by stating that the education the oldest child received and the youngest received is vastly different – and not for the better. Per the school administration, only 40% of our students take PSAT whereas the state average is 70%. The accountability of the declining education standard rests squarely on the current BOE which in many ways agreed to the recommendations of the administration of lower expectations from our students.

The other issue that the board must tackle is the high administrative cost of our school system. This elevated administrative expenditure often comes at the expense of educational excellence. We must carefully evaluate whether we truly require every layer of administrative positions, including all assistant superintendents, vice principals, and other administrative staff. The administrative staff’s salaries are considerably higher in comparison to what we pay our teachers. We need a board member with financial expertise who is willing to scrutinize every expenditure and seek opportunities to allocate more resources effectively for education.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

I possess over 33 years of extensive finance experience, serving as a finance executive with a highly regarded Fortune 100 company. Many of our present challenges stem from suboptimal financial priorities. My substantial financial expertise sets me apart from other candidates in this challenging role. I have the requisite background and knowledge to ask right questions during the board meetings. I have the experience to meticulously scrutinize our $170 million operational budget to pinpoint inefficiencies, and ensure prudent use of taxpayers’ funds.

My vast real-world experience has equipped me to collaborate effectively with all board members to achieve tangible results. I firmly believe that as a board member, responsibilities extend beyond
identifying issues and problems; it also involves crafting solutions and working alongside fellow board members to successfully implement those recommendations for the benefit of our students.

My unwavering belief in a high-quality education system, with a focus on students’ well-being, drives my commitment to this role. All three of my children graduated from the Bridgewater-Raritan school system, emphasizing higher education and specialization. This firsthand experience has given me a deep understanding of what it takes to enhance the educational experience, and I am dedicated to leveraging this experience for the betterment of our students.

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

I have been a resident of Bridgewater-Raritan for 25 years. All three of my children have graduated from the Bridgewater-Raritan school system. I’ve been happily married for 40 years. I’ve worked at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) for 33 years specializing in finance. I hold a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering and M.B.A. in Finance.

Over the last few years, I’ve proudly served on the Raritan Public Library Board of Trustees. I’ve also volunteered as a tax preparer for Somerset United Way, assisting low-income filers with their tax returns. Furthermore, I have dedicated my time to the Sri Venkateswara temple in Bridgewater, where I tutored Hindi classes for many years. During my children’s time in the Bridgewater-Raritan school system, my wife and I actively participated in the PTO. Notably, I once served on a Bridgewater-Raritan school system committee responsible for the budgeting process.

I am running for the school board with the sole aim of giving back to our community. My commitment to community service and volunteering is unwavering. The school systems serve as a nucleus for any community. As the board member, I will ensure this nucleus stays stronger and vibrant for many years to come.