School Board Eleciton: One Hoboken Slate Reveals Platform

HOBOKEN, NJ — In two months, eight candidates will face off for three spots on the Hoboken school board. Recently, each of the two three-member slates in the race has released its platform.

Two weeks ago, the Kids First slate unveiled their policies.

More recently, the slate that includes a current board member — "Leadership That Listens" — unveiled their positions. They referred to their platform as a "Pro-Public School Platform."

All three members of the slate have students in the school district. Below is their platform.

They issued the following release last week:

Leslie Norwood, Antonio Graña and Alejandro (Alex) De La Torre Jr. announced the platform for their “Leadership that Listens” slate for the Hoboken Board of Education election on November 8, 2022. Their platform focuses on continuing to drive the ongoing progress and growth of the Hoboken Public School District while increasing Hoboken BOE transparency and fiscal accountability, improving academic outcomes for all students, increasing community outreach, and ensuring student safety and improving facilities.

“The Hoboken Board of Education has oversight over the administration and education of over 3,000 students, and it is critical that we find a path forward as a community to serve those students.” said board member Alex De La Torre. “We feel constructive criticism is important for continued growth and improvement; we are bringing new ideas based on our experiences as parents and community members.”

“There have been significant and major positive changes and growth in the Hoboken Public School District since 2009, but there are always more improvements that can be made,” said Antonio Graña. “We feel strongly that BOE meetings should be live-streamed and the BOE needs to publish a strategic plan as part of a set of initiatives to increase transparency and better engage the entire community.”

“Teachers are the district’s biggest asset to improve academic outcomes; we need to invest in our teachers, enhance teacher training such as with embedded non-evaluative trainers, and updated curricula and teaching tools,” said Leslie Norwood. “Currently DRA literacy testing ends at second grade; we’d like literacy testing to continue until children ‘test out’, as it is important to know a child’s ability level to assess if they need additional or different resources from the district.”

The full Leadership That Listens platform can be viewed on their website at:
www.leadershipthatlistenshoboken.com. Locations and times for their listening tour sessions can be found on their Facebook Page: Leadership That Listens - Hoboken.

A Question: Why Not Stream Them Now?

The policy of streaming board meetings, unlike some of the other goals, seems like it wouldn't take long to accomplish, and begs a question — considering the board was able to hold live meetings about the school referendum plan last year, why aren't board meetings already being livestreamed?

And have the members suggested this to the board already?

Alex De La Torre responded:

"Yes, the district has live streamed during the pandemic and events, including some for the referendum. Right now in the current board makeup, I am in the minority in wanting meetings live streamed. My slatemates and I feel strongly that it is important to reach as many citizens as possible in real-time. We acknowledge live-streaming BOE meetings has different risks than City Council or other boards and will be flexible in our approach to gaining consent from the majority of the board."

Patch will also post questions and answers from candidates this coming October. Stay tuned.

Send Letters!

Want to post a letter about the upcoming race or any other matter? Former City Council candidate Ian Rintel posted a letter on it just today, and you can, too. Follow these instructions for posting a neighbor post or article.