School Board Candidate Marcia Asdal: Better Efficiencies a Top Priority

Marcia Asdal, 49, a Chester Township resident of 25 years, is running against Gary Lakritz for the vacant Chester representative seat on the West Morris Regional School Board. The term length is three years. While Washington Township residents do not vote for Asdal or any representatives from the Mendhams or Chesters, decisions by board members from those towns affect the board as a whole. For more information on the election, see . The following are Asdal’s answers to questions asked by Long Valley Patch.

Long Valley Patch: How many of your children are going through/have gone through the district?
Marcia Asdal: We have 5 girls, all of whom have been educated in the public school system. Four of them have graduated from Mendham High School; three attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, and one went to Duke University. 
Our oldest daughter will be graduating with a master’s degree in Public Policy from the JFK School of Government in Cambridge, MA.  Another daughter will be working for Teach for America in Memphis, TN in June. We have a daughter who is currently in flight school in Enid, OK. One of our daughters is a sophomore at the Naval Academy. Our youngest child is a sophomore at Mendham HS.

LVP: What is your educational background?
MA: I graduated from Illinois State University in 1983 with a degree in Business and Finance.

LVP: What is your current occupation?
MA: My husband and I own several small businesses–Asdal Builders, LLC is the primary company–and we also own The Raritan Inn Bed & Breakfast in Califon.  Most of my time is spent managing and marketing the Inn.

LVP: Do you have any past political / volunteer experience?
MA: I have been an active leader involved with a wide range of organizations for many years.

• U.S. Naval Academy Parents’ Club of NJ – President, Webmaster
• Chester PTO – President, Newsletter Editor, Directory Editor, Webmaster
• Chester Library – Strategic Planning Committee
• Chester Historical Society – Newsletter Editor
• Mendham High School PTO – Communications Chair
• Chester Science Fair

I am most proud of my involvement with the Chester Science Fair for the past 18 years, the past 8 as chairperson. The Fair is the only one of its kind in the state, with over 500 students regularly participating and about 100 judges and other adults volunteering their time in the interest of science. It has been in existence at the Chester schools for 33 years and I am happy to have had a leadership role in the stewardship of this phenomenal community event.

LVP: Why should voters feel comfortable with you representing the board of education?
MA: I have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the active stewardship of Chester’s students, families and our towns. Chester residents should feel confident that I will execute leadership on behalf of the taxpayers. In this role I will continue to adhere to the highest of ethical standards and apply my philosophy of personal responsibility and high expectations.

LVP: In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing the district, and what do you intend to do to fix them?
MA: The current economic climate, coupled with the reduction of state aid, is a real challenge for school budgets. The West Morris Regional High School District will be tasked with lowering the burden on our taxpayer, and complying with state mandates, while also maintaining the high level of educational quality that the community expects and that students need. It is imperative that the Board of Education be at the forefront in crafting solutions that offer better efficiencies–at all levels–without simply relying on and requesting more state aid. I am eager to be a part of the leadership team that identifies these solutions and overcomes the barriers to implementation.

Evaluate the tax allocation method. The current method of using equalized property valuation to allocate school taxes has resulted in an imbalance among the sending districts’ costs. I support efforts to find a fair and workable solution. Several models are at hand and each will have actionable tasks falling to the next Board. I look forward to assessing these initiatives on behalf of the taxpayers, and working with all stakeholders to choose the best solution for our towns.