Manchester Township School Board Election 2023: Bozena Czekalski

MANCHESTER, NJ — Election Day 2023 is near, and Manchester Township voters will be going to the polls to cast their ballots for candidates at the local, county and state levels.

The three, three-year terms on the Manchester Township Board of Education are the only contested races in Manchester, and there are six candidates seeking the three seats. School board seats are volunteer positions and are supposed to be nonpartisan entities.

Patch sent a questionnaire to all of the candidates seeking their responses. Here are the replies from Bozena Czekalski.

Your Name: Bozena Czekalski

Age (as of Election Day): 44

Campaign Website: Better for Manchester School Board Team

Family: Dominick Tedeschi, significant other; Valentina Tedeschi, daughter; Santino Tedeschi, son.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for. No.

Education: I received a bachelor's of engineering degree in Poland; associate's degree in nursing at Ocean County College; bachelor’s of science in nursing from Rutgers University; master's in nursing executive track from Chamberlain College of Nursing; master’s degree in nursing, family nurse practitioner from Monmouth University, and I am currently attending Wilkes University to obtain post-master’s certificate in psychology.

Occupation: Stroke Nurse Practitioner 5 years, Registered Nurse 6 years.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am very passionate about education. Through my education and professional experience, I can bring analytic thinking and leadership skills. I believe that the education that was provided to me, prepared me well for what I was able to achieve. I have decided to run for the Board of Education because I want the best future for not only my children, and that starts with education. I also believe that we can do “Better for Manchester” by building a stronger sense of community by giving parents a bigger voice, being transparent, addressing emotional and physical health care needs of our students and teachers and addressing the declining educational performance by going “Back to Basics” when building a curriculum.

What do you see as the role of the Board of Education?

The Board of Education is responsible for shaping the overall educational vision of the district's public schools, by writing an appropriate curriculum, creating and upholding board policies, electing school officials and overseeing administrators. In addition, ensuring that every child receives the best education in a very safe environment.

The Manchester Township Schools are predicted to see an increase in enrollment over the next 5 years. What steps do you think the district should take to prepare for that?

In the event that the enrollment increases, The Manchester Township School District should have a plan in place to assure that staffing is appropriate to avoid overcrowding of classrooms. Staffing among transportation departments should be evaluated, as well as the number of buses needed to accommodate the increased enrollment.

What do you believe is the most important issue for students and families in the Manchester Township Schools?

My running mates and I believe that a "back to basics" approach should be taken when the curriculum is written to help with higher test scores. The district should be transparent and should communicate with parents clearly to avoid miscommunication. The parents' rights should be protected, not removed.