Hillsborough School Board Election 2024: Elaine Jackson

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough Township's general election on Nov. 5 has five candidates running for three open seats for the Board of Education.

Incumbent Elaine Jackson is running for one of the three, three-year seats against incumbents Allison Laning-Beder and Jane M. Staats, and newcomers Diane Braungard-Galayda and Noor Jannah Hameed.

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.

Elaine Jackson

• Age: N/A
• Town of residence: Hillsborough
• Position sought: Hillsborough Board of Education
• Family: I have two daughters, both graduates of the Hillsborough School District.
• Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and Economics
• Occupation: IT Business Analyst
• Previous elected/appointed office: Currently completing my third year of my first term as a BOE member.
• Campaign website: N/A

Why are you seeking election for the Board of Education?

I chose to run for a second term because I felt there was more to accomplish. When my first term began, the district faced unusual circumstances that had to be juggled with the usual operations of the district. At this point, I feel more confident we can dedicate our time to improving the district for our students because of all the difficult work we completed to get the district back on track.

Safety in schools remains a high priority. Enhancements were made to schools in the district with the implementation of a new security team. How do you feel about the changes and do you feel enough was done?

I think the district took an important step by adding a security team. We recently learned more about overall school security practices, and I have a new appreciation for the complexity of such operations. I believe we have a solid plan in place right now with the right amount of security. I trust we will observe the rollout of the process and make any needed adjustments.

The district continues to wrestle with balancing a budget due to state aid cuts. How do you propose trying to address this?

The lack of a fair and equitable plan for school funding after the end of S2 is a concern. Being the only school district in Somerset County to consistently lose funding is inexcusable. The district should remain dedicated to advocating for restoration of funding, whether on our own or in concert with other districts that have also been negatively impacted. Our students and community deserve more from the state.

The Board is looking into redistricting the schools in the future. Are you in favor of this? Why or why not?

I believe we should be evaluating how we currently district our students given the increase in housing in Hillsborough. We need to make sure that we are utilizing our school space effectively to avoid overcrowding class sizes, and overburdening staff and transportation services.

Are you in favor of having full-day kindergarten in the school district? Why or why not?

I fully support adding full-day kindergarten to the Hillsborough district, however, I also believe we need to evaluate what we lost at other grade levels over the years due to the steady decrease in funding. Each school level (elementary, intermediate, middle, and high) has important, and sometimes unique, needs that must be met to serve all our students.

What would you like to see improved in the school district?

I would like to see steady progress in delivering the changes proposed with the property tax increase that was levied to recoup funding.

What other issues would you like to tackle if elected to the Board of Ed?

We should continue to monitor the residual effects of Covid on student learning, and review courses to update offerings and provide curriculum that promotes critical and independent thinking. We have also started discussing the use of AI by teachers and students to make sure the tool is used responsibly and effectively. Oftentimes, open discussion on proposed agenda items and unexpected issues results in new opportunities for improvement.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

I believe that my professional experience differs from the professional experience of the other candidates. I have spent my career in private industry, and recently in local government, in the IT industry. Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with high school and college interns, as well new college graduates joining the full-time work force for the first time. My perspective on the Board comes not only from being a parent but also from knowing what work habits are expected of employees. I think it has become increasingly important to make sure that young people develop the ‘soft skills’ of analysis and critical thinking in addition to the important skills like math, science, and literacy. When you add the interpersonal skills gained from extracurricular activities, students can become more well-rounded contributors in their future endeavors.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?

I have learned so much from having served on the board for the past two-plus years and would encourage more parents and community stakeholders to contribute their diverse perspectives to help develop a school district that promotes tolerance of such perspectives. As adults, we all have a responsibility to serve as role models for our students. Volunteerism is a great way to encourage them to be effective members of the community.