Candidate Profile: Education Needs to be BOE's Top Priority, Challenger Says

After a dozen years on the West Morris Regional Board of Education, Chester Township’s James Johnston decided not to run for re-election in 2013. After just half a year of watching from the sidelines, Johnston threw his hat back into the ring, and is seeking a three-year term on that same board.

The township resident of 31 years and married father served on the Chester Schools Board of Education in the 1990s and sat on the regional board – including years as vice president and president – from 2001 to 2013. During his time on the regional board, Johnston also served as chair of the negotiations/personnel committee and served on various other subcommittees.

Outside the school board, Johnston was a coach in the youth wrestling and soccer program in Chester. He is challenging incumbent Marcia Asdal, whom he served alongside for two years, for the three-year term representing Chester Township in the Nov. 4 Election.

Patch asked Johnson a series of questions for this profile piece. His answers are below, unedited.

Patch: Why are you running for the board of education?
James Johnston: I want to emphasize the need for the Board of Education to concentrate on educational issues for all levels of students. Although the funding formula has been extremely important to me over the last twenty years, the board’s objective must be about providing a solid foundation for each and every student. For decades our Board of Education has worked hard to enable our schools to achieve and maintain academic excellence. However, during recent years, a vocal minority on the Board has tried to obstruct this process both inside and outside of the Board room. This constant challenging of the Board to dwell on our schools funding mechanisms are political, not educational issues. Respect and consideration for all opinions must be allowed and encouraged, but the Board focus must be on improving educational delivery. My intention is to work collaboratively with all of my fellow Board members to make educational issues the Board’s top priority again. As a Board member, I owe this commitment to our students, their families and our community. I will not put our district’s educational vision “on hold” while the funding mechanism is being studied by our towns.

Patch: What changes, if any, would you hope to implement over the next three years as a member of the board?
JJ: Educationally, I would like to see more consolidation of our IB program and the expanding of our new IB career certificate programs. This international pedagogy, which has been embedded into all of our academic programs, is the main reason our students are excelling today. I believe we need to improve students time management skills. A prime example of our district’s shortcomings in teaching time management skills is the current Physical Education exemption policy. This policy was developed to give students study halls instead of participation in state mandated Physical Education programs. The district’s Physical Education curriculum teaches students lifelong wellness skills, and must not be trivialized or eliminated. The current Physical Education Exemption Policy is a disservice to our students future in college where they will face stronger academic rigor and tougher time management issues.

Patch: In 2016 the board of education will have the ability to change the district’s vote for members and budget back to April after it was switched in 2012. How would you vote, and why?
JJ: There are pros and cons to the timing of Board elections, whether in November or April. I will vote for keeping school board elections in November because of greater voter participation and taxpayer savings by not having to pay for April elections. As currently mandated, the choice to hold school elections in November requires a Board to commit to a 2% budget cap for four years. The WMRHSD Board chose this option at the outset, committing to the mandated 2% budget cap for the past four budgets, despite having to “pre-plan” school budgets for fiscal years that run from July 1 – June 30.

Patch: What is the biggest misstep the board has made in the last one to two years? What vote did it make – or not make – that negatively impacted the district?
JJ: I do not believe there have been any missteps by the Board in the last two years. In fact, the Board’s new administrative policy, which was created while I was President of the Board, resulted in our new administrative structure - including district supervisors. This policy has allowed our district to make exponential progress in our students academic rigor. It provides a new evaluation system for all of our teachers which will allow our administration more leeway when dealing with antiquated state laws regarding teacher tenure. This policy also dramatically reduced administrative costs.

Patch: Over the next half decade, enrollment is projected to decline at a consistent rate. What should the district do, if anything, to accommodate this situation by not leaving classrooms or school buses empty?
JJ: If downsizing of staff is needed due to decreased enrollments, then it must be done. Bus routes are easily changed to be efficient. I believe in prudent fiscal management and I will continue to vote for budgets only under the 2% cap. But there might be a better solution to keeping our enrollments and budgets stable, which I will work on as a Board member. The WMRHS district is one of the finest in the state. We could attract transfer students from surrounding communities outside of our region, whose sending district would be state mandated to pay their tuition. Interest in this option by parents outside our district already exists. Our IB program already attracts families to our towns. By creating a policy that allows for the acceptance of transfer students, the WMRHS district could keep our classrooms full and lower costs to our taxpayers.

Patch: Faced with the 2-percent tax cap in the state of New Jersey, what ways will you, as a board member, be sure to keep taxpayers’ funds used properly, especially in the light of declining enrollment?
JJ: The new organizational management system that has been implemented by our Superintendent over the past two years has allowed the district to control administrative expenses while improving academic achievement. Future potential declining enrollment does make budget development challenging. The most effective way to control the budget is through the successful negotiation of contracts, especially for large personnel groups, i.e. teachers. Grants are another way the district can hold down taxes. As a state and national leader in educational reforms, our district can continue to capitalize on grant opportunities. Coupled with tight budget controls and efficiencies, the district can continue to provide a superior personalized educational experience for all of our students.