Meet The Moorestown School Board Candidates: Sarah Rivera

MOORESTOWN, NJ — When voters cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 elections, they will be asked to choose three people from a field of six to serve on the Moorestown Public School District's Board of Education.

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. Below are the responses from candidate Sarah Rivera.

Previous elective office, if any

None

Does anyone in your family work for the school district or in politics?
My father is a township supervisor in Thornbury Township in West Chester, PA. Otherwise, no employment connection to MTPS.

Education
B.S. in Operations Research & Industrial Engineering from Cornell University

Occupation
Program Manager — Lockheed Martin
Responsible for the production and deployment of systems onboard the U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutters

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?
I am seeking a seat on the board to bring solutions to the district that not only fulfill the educational needs of the students, but also serve in the best interest of parents and taxpayers. For the past 18 months, I have seen the current BOE make choices with disregard for both policy and input from the community. It is time to have the voices of the parents heard and responded to, not tossed aside to serve the BOE’s agenda.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
Transparency is the single most pressing issue facing our district. Parents are lacking critical information on the decisions being pushed through. I intend to listen to parents when they have ideas and concerns. I intend to present my concerns regarding decisions in the public BOE meeting before placing a vote and I intend to use my vote wisely. I will not create unnecessary conflict, but I will not shy away from voicing an opinion that I believe is in the best interest of families and the community.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board seat?
The critical difference between myself and others running for the board is that I’m not afraid to go against the grain. I think there is too much at stake and I will not subscribe to “group think.” Also, I am thorough and do my due diligence. I will ensure we revert to following policy instead of circumventing process as has been the common practice of the current board.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

• Utilizing common sense to solve the problems that matter to parents
• Critical Thinking to ensure long-term decision viability
• Managing the ~$82M budget without tax increases

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective on the school board?
I was instrumental in bringing transparency to the community regarding the haste and wastefulness involved in the $26M Referendum in 2019. I did my due diligence by attending every meeting and summarizing the facts, especially those facts that the current board members wanted to sweep under the rug and keep from the public. As a direct result of my efforts, there was extremely high voter turnout (>2700 people) for the December special vote and the community rejected the district’s Referendum with 57% voting no and only 43% voting yes.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I am tenacious. When I start something, I give it my all. I set high expectations for myself and those around me. I don’t settle for “good enough” or “better than nothing” and I will carry that drive to succeed with me on the BOE to help our families of the district.

The best advice ever shared with me was:
“Show up in life, even in the storms.” Steve DelMonte — Race Director for DelMoSports Inc. This means to put in the hard work especially during tough times. I chose to run for the BOE during an extremely volatile time in the district and I’m confident I can weather this storm for our students and families.