Meet The Cherry Hill School Board Candidate: Carol Matlack

CHERRY HILL, NJ — When voters cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 elections, they will be asked to choose three people from a field of five to serve on the Cherry Hill Public School District's Board of Education.

Patch asked each candidate to answer questions to give voters information about who they are and their stances on various issues. We are printing their responses in full, unedited except for spelling or punctuation. Below are the responses from Board Member Carol Matlack.

Previous elective office, if any

Cherry Hill BOE member since 2010

Does anyone in your family work for the school district or in politics?

No

Education

Marywood University — Bachelor of Science Elementary/Early Childhood Education Occupation Past — teacher and Preschool Director; current — nonprofit work and BOE responsibilities

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?

I am dismayed by the negativity that seems to have permeated our community. We need to move our school district forward by working together in a positive, thoughtful way. I believe that even if we disagree, we can still work together in a collaborative, respectful manner. With many challenges known and unknown facing our schools in these uncertain times, we need to work together to find creative solutions.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is the health and safety of our students and staff. Over the past few years, the board has focused on improving our buildings. With 19 schools to maintain and upgrade, all of them 50-60+ years old, it is a monumental task. With strategic vision and in a fiscally responsible manner, it can be done. I have the experience and vision to help us do that. While improving our facilities is the long range focus, the current COVID-19 crisis is our immediate focus. Remote learning and safely bringing our staff and students back into the buildings, along with the social and emotional well-being of our students and staff during this crisis, needs to be our focus.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board seat?

The district needs strong leadership as we move forward, especially in these uncertain times. I have served in leadership roles in a variety of organizations — as a Preschool Director, as President of PEO Chapter W (an international Philanthropic Educational Organization), West PTA President for several years and as BOE president for two years. The experience of being on the board these past 10 years and leading the board for two years as President and two years as Vice President puts me in a unique position to move the district forward. I have the historical understanding of our district and the vision of what's needed for the future that will help us move forward. While my focus as a board member is first and foremost on the children we serve, I know and understand that board members have a responsibility to all the stakeholders in our community — from those with children in our district, to those who don't have children in our district, to our senior citizens who have invested their time and money over the years to build our community, to every person in Cherry Hill. All stakeholders are invested and benefit from our exceptional school district.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Strong, dedicated leadership that is committed to working collaboratively with the district administration and our community is crucial to strategically moving our district forward. My four children are all graduates of West, having attended Knight, Carusi, Rosa and West. I attribute their success in college and in graduate school, and now in the work force in higher education, engineering, and technology fields, to the exceptional foundational education they received in Cherry Hill. Working together, we can continue to provide that exceptional education to Cherry Hill students for many years to come.

The best advice ever shared with me was

As I was preparing for the public interview for the interim BOE position in 2010, a dear friend reminded me to 'just speak from your heart.' That advice, along with the quote from St. Francis de Sales, "Be who you are and be that well," have long guided me in my personal life and in my work on the board. My past work on the board and my desire to continue serving our community is a testament to my commitment to our district.