Allison Laning-Beder: Hillsborough School Board Candidate

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — The Hillsborough Township School Board has four candidates vying for three seats in the upcoming election on Nov. 2.

Allison Laning-Beder is one of the candidates running. The other candidates include:

• Jason R. Albanese
• Krzysztof Golas
• Elaine Jackson

All of the candidates are running for the three, three-year seats on the board.

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

Allison Laning-Beder

Name: Allison Laning-Beder

Age: 45

Town of residence: Hillsborough

Position sought: Hillsborough Township Board of Education

Family: Married, mother of 3 children and our dog Winnie

Education: Bachelor’s degree from New York University and Master’s degree in elementary education from Rutgers University

Occupation: Former NJ public school teacher and current full-time parent.

Previous or current elected appointed office: None.

Why are you seeking to run for school board? I was inspired to seek a seat on the Hillsborough Township Board of Education to advocate for improved mental health services for students, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope to use my background in the classroom, my training as an educator, and my experience as a parent to help improve our schools and advocate for new mental health resources to support our students, faculty, and staff as they grapple with the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

What is your stance on masks in schools? I expect that the issue of masking in schools will be dictated by the state government, but if this becomes a local board of education issue I will look to the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other similarly respected public health experts for guidance to keep our school community safe from COVID-19. As a parent, I trust our family’s pediatrician to make recommendations about my children’s health, and I trust the Academy of Pediatrics to make recommendations about students' health in school. At this time, these expert resources all recommend universal masking in schools.

Should schools offer a virtual option? Virtual and hybrid education presented incredible challenges to students, families, and teachers. Similar to masking policy, I expect that the issue of virtual instruction will be mostly dictated by the state government during the pandemic. However, if this becomes a local issue, I would seek to limit the use of virtual education as a last resort only if the district is unable to keep students and staff reasonably safe for in-person instruction.

I do, however, support offering a limited virtual option for students that are required to quarantine at home or remain out sick during the pandemic to allow students to keep up with the curriculum.

What other issues do you feel must be tackled in the school district? I am a teacher and a parent first, but I am also a middle-class taxpayer with three children. We cannot solve every problem in our schools by spending more money and raising taxes. The school board needs to get creative and make sure that we are spending our tax dollars wisely. If elected, I will look to increase school revenue from government and private grants, find budget savings in areas that do not impact the classroom or student extracurricular activities, and advocate for making wealthy developers pay for the costs that residential development imposes on our schools.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates? Rather than discuss other candidates, I would prefer to present my own qualifications to serve on the school board. I am a career educator with more than 10 years of classroom teaching experience. I have a bachelor’s degree from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and a master’s degree in education from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. This training and experience in education are needed on the Board to supervise the development of school policy and ensure that Administration focuses on providing the best possible education to our students.

I have lived in Hillsborough Township for 13 years with my husband Adam and our three children, all of whom attend Hillsborough Township Public Schools. I also volunteer as the President of the Hillsborough High School Choir Parents Association.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign? I recognize that a successful school district involves listening to the perspectives of every stakeholder, including students, families, residents, employers, teachers, and staff. The board of education has faced criticism for poor communication and transparency with these stakeholders, which has caused confusion, frustration, and distrust. When elected, I will strive to improve board communication and accountability in an environment where discourse is conducted in a respectful manner. While disagreements are inevitable, we need to remind ourselves that we are all working toward a successful and supportive learning environment for all of our children.