Manchester School Board Election 2020: Melanie Biscardi

MANCHESTER, NJ — When voters go to the polls Nov. 3, they will be asked to choose four people to serve on the Manchester Township Board of Education.

There three, three-year full terms, and one one-year unfinished term up for election. The Board of Education is volunteer, meaning its members do not get paid to serve.

Patch asked each candidate to answer questions to give voters information about who they are and their stances on various issues. We are printing their responses in full, unedited except for spelling or punctuation.

Here are the answers from Melanie Biscardi, who is seeking re-election to a three-year term. She is running with James "Ken" Pate, under the slogan For The Children.

Previous elective office, if any:

Previously elected to Manchester BOE

Does anyone in your family work for the school district or in politics?

no

Education

Master's in educational leadership from New Jersey City University; two bachelor's degrees from Richard Stockton College of NJ, in communications, and in elementary education

Occupation

Basic Skills teacher

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?

Being a product of all educators in my family, education is in my blood and it is extremely important to me. As a basic skills teacher, I am aware that all children learn differently and making sure that our children here in Manchester have a variety of ways to learn is truly important to me. I am seeking re-election because my work on the the Manchester Board of Education has just begun and I need to continue to make this school district even better than what it is now with the help of my other board members.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Funding is the most important issue facing our school district. As a board member with my board, we will continue to fight for what is right and get what we need for our children and our teachers.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board seat?

Just like my other board of education members that I serve proudly with, I too am so very passionate about education and wanting to constantly learn new and innovative ways to help our children and teachers. I do this by being involved in so many aspects of our district, county and state level. I am also the vice president of Ocean County School Boards Association and the Ocean County delegate on the Board of Directors for New Jersey School Boards Association. By doing this, I have had the opportunity to learning from other districts and the other districts have learned from ours. I bring back so many ideas to my board so that we can apply them and make our district even better than what it is today.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My campaign platform is for the children. As a board of education member, I know that this COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on our children and their families. I will make sure that their social emotional and learning needs are met during this crisis. We have to take care of our children!

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective on the school board?

I think one of the biggest accomplishments is trying to juggle life being a wife, mom of two daughters, teacher and attending all of my board of education meetings along with so many of the school events that showcase our Manchester students and staff. It is a challenge but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Another very big accomplishment that this board and I have worked on achieving is the need more for more safety measures in our schools. This past year we fought to get an officer in the middle school and we were very successful. We are now working on getting one present for each of the elementary schools EVERY day.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

If anyone knows me, they know I am a very hard worker that ALWAYS puts a 110 percent in and I can look at issues in a balanced way. I think that is a result of being a Libra and a former journalist.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice that has been shared with me during my first term on the Manchester Township Board of Education is you don't know what you don't know ... but when I find out, as a team (because there is no "I" in team) we will help to fix it and make it better.