Hillsborough School Board Election 2024: N. Jannah Hameed

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

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

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.

N. Jannah Hameed

• Age: 19
• Town of residence: Hillsborough, NJ
• Position sought: Board of Education
• Family: I live with my parents and younger sister, who is still in the school system.
• Education: Hillsborough High School Graduate (2023), Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s at Rutgers, New Brunswick
• Occupation: Full time student
• Previous elected/appointed office: N/A
• Campaign website:
  • Instagram: instagram.com/hameed4boe
  • Facebook: facebook.com/hameed4boe

Why are you seeking election for the Board of Education?

My experience with Hillsborough public schools was incredibly rewarding. I was able to push myself through challenging classes, explore my interests through extracurriculars, and make connections with teachers who made my academic success possible. I graduated from Hillsborough High School in 2023, and now attend Rutgers University.

As a member of the Board of Education, I hope to ensure the future students of this town have the same educational opportunities that I did, while also returning the support Hillsborough teachers and staff once gave me.

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?

The district’s recent security enhancements were absolutely warranted: ensuring the well-being of students and faculty should always be our top priority.

At the same time, creating a truly safe learning environment requires more than the presence of security personnel. We must take concrete actions against internal threats against student safety– namely harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) cases. This requires treating HIB cases with the seriousness they demand, prioritizing concerns raised by teachers and staff about student behavior, and encouraging students to advocate for their peers in need.

Addressing bullying is an essential part of protecting our students, as preserving their emotional and mental health is just as important as safeguarding them from external dangers.

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

A problem as severe and complex as state aid cuts cannot be tackled alone. Collaboration among board members and with state legislators is essential to overcoming this challenge. As a board member, I would work with others to find practical solutions through asking questions and keeping an open mind.

We also need to prioritize clear communication with the public about how budgeting decisions are made and where funds are allocated.

Transparency builds trust. It’s important that the community knows their taxpayer dollars are being put to good use and are making a difference in our schools.

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

Logistically, schools can only accommodate so many students. Because of new housing developments, some areas of Hillsborough are experiencing more increases in their student populations than others, causing an unequal distribution of students among schools. Utilizing available space and resources in less populated schools could help prevent excessively large class sizes overall.

However, we must also consider practicality and convenience for students and parents. In many cases, sending students to a school that is too far away may not be sensible, particularly for younger students who might struggle with longer bus rides.

Either way, redistricting is a temporary solution to the larger issue of overcrowding. The student population will inevitably grow as more families move into Hillsborough, meaning the same issues will resurface until we develop a long-term approach.

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

Full-day kindergarten allows children to develop a strong foundation in core subjects, enhances their social and emotional development, and prepares them for a smooth transition into elementary school. On top of that, full-day programs offer parents a consistent, convenient schedule, minimizing the need for after-school childcare.

For these reasons, I fully support implementing full-day kindergarten in Hillsborough. Neighboring towns, including Bridgewater-Raritan and Montgomery, have already adopted full-day programs.

As one of the top 5 school districts in the county, it’s about time Hillsborough takes action and ensures our kids aren’t left behind.

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

Overcrowding in our schools prevents Hillsborough students from receiving the quality of education they deserve. Growing class sizes mean students receive less individual attention, while teachers may struggle to manage their classrooms effectively. Worse, it can lead to an increased rate of bullying and fights— especially in crammed, congested hallways.

The clear solution here is to hire additional staff. This would open up more classrooms, reduce class sizes overall, and increase student supervision.

Given Hillsborough’s recent budget cuts, this issue will not be solved overnight. But our quality of education is at stake: we must treat this issue with the urgency it requires.

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

Hillsborough students are all too familiar with the saying “Go Boro, Go Green.” But are we really doing enough to live up to our catchphrase? I think there’s room to improve.
We need to adopt more sustainable practices in our schools. Recycling is a good place to start, but the issue here isn't the lack of recycling bins; it's that they are often misused as regular trash cans.

Another overlooked issue is food waste in school cafeterias. As a student, I’ve seen people discard entire trays of untouched food during lunchtime– which is disheartening considering others in the same town may be struggling with food insecurity.

Through education, we can raise awareness about proper recycling practices and responsible consumption. We must assure students that even small actions– like disposing waste in the correct bin— can make a difference.

Working with environmental student organizations and sustainability-focused clubs could help engage more students in driving this change, preparing them to be responsible, active citizens in the process.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

Parent and teacher voices are invaluable on the Board of Ed; but both these perspectives are already represented on the current Board. What we lack is a candidate with a fresh perspective– who experienced the school district first-hand as a student, even during the post-COVID era of education.

I am the only candidate with this direct experience. I understand the needs of students because unlike any other candidate, I was in their shoes not so long ago.

As a recent graduate, I know what it takes to succeed as a student– just as I know what holds students back. If elected, I won’t just be an advocate for teachers and parents, but a voting representative for Hillsborough students.

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

The Board should represent the people it serves.

There are three seats up for grabs in this race. At least one of them should be filled by someone who understands the district’s issues through the eyes of a student.
At the same time, I recognize that no single experience, including my own, can ever fully capture the diverse realities of everyone in Hillsborough schools.

I strongly believe in the importance of listening, even when we disagree. I may not be able to resolve every challenge this school district faces on my own, but I will always be willing to learn others’ perspectives and have a conversation— this I promise.

Please email me anytime at hameedforboe@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. It is my responsibility as a candidate to be honest and open with the public. If elected, I will carry this same transparency with me to the Board of Ed.