Dafna Kendal: Princeton Board Of Education Candidate Profile

PRINCETON, NJ — There is a contested race for the Princeton Board of Education election this upcoming November election with four candidates vying for the three open seats.

Dafna Kendal is one of four candidates running for the three, three-year seats in the election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The other three candidates include: Gregory Stankiewicz, Debbie Bronfeld, and Susan Kanter.

Here is a look at who Kendal is and why she is running. Candidates were asked to answer the same questions and each candidate profile will be posted on Patch's site as it gets closer to the election.

Dafna Kendal

Describe yourself:

I am the mother of two children in the district, a 7th grader at John Witherspoon Middle School and a 10th grader at Princeton High School. I am 47 years old. After graduating from Lehigh University and Seton Hall Law, I have worked as a regulatory and compliance attorney.

Why are you running for school board?

I want to ensure that students of all backgrounds and abilities receive an excellent education. This spring, the school board raised taxes for the 2019-20 budget by the maximum allowable by law, while eliminating 3 percent of teaching and staff positions, even as enrollment continues to rise. This decision has led to increased class sizes throughout the district and reduced class offerings for students.

Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?

My prior experience as a highly effective Princeton Public School board member (2016-18) will allow me to get to work right away. A few of my accomplishments during my prior board term include negotiating $800,000 in voluntary payments from non-profits in Princeton, discovering that Cranbury wasn’t fully compensating our district for services provided (Cranbury underpaid PPS by about $150,000 for the 2018-19 school year) and leading the discussions with the teacher’s union to clear the way for the start time at PHS to be moved to 8:30 a.m. Given my prior experience, I already know how the system works and how to get things done.

As an independent thinker with established relationships throughout Princeton, I’m able to see both sides of an issue, create solutions, and build consensus. Many parents, teachers, and members of the community know that I’m responsive, that they can bring their concerns to me, and that I will act, if necessary.

What are some issues you would like to address if elected?

• Diligent, creative, and conscientious fiscal management. This is essential, and I will address this by:
  • Continuing negotiations around voluntary payments from non-public institutions which send students to Princeton Public Schools. These payments help to offset the costs of educating students affiliated with those institutions. I will also explore other avenues of revenue, including ensuring that Cranbury abides by its contractual obligations.
  • Offering solutions that allow for budget cuts without harmful repercussions for students throughout the district. Every cent counts, and every child counts. What may seem to save money in the short-term, such as cutting intervention services that help students struggling in math, reading or writing, (and ultimately keep them out of special education), can lead to negative financial and academic outcomes.
• Emotional and environmental safety and wellness in our schools.
  • A positive school environment where everyone is valued - students, teachers, staff, and families - is vital. Each one of our schools is a community, and each person in that community plays an important role. While I was on the Board, I led fair and respectful negotiations to extend the teacher’s contract through 2020. Our teachers and staff are our talent, upholding Princeton’s value of excellent schools as they educate our children.
  • Recognizing this talent through investment, retention, collaboration and respect is essential to school morale. Our students and families are at the heart of why I’m running for the BOE. In the multiple conversations I’ve had, and in the panels and workshops I’ve attended, it is clear that it in order for our district to serve our students well, it is incumbent upon our leaders to continue the reevaluation of curriculum, diversify hiring practices and be a leader in adopting K-12 racial literacy. The more we understand and value each other, the more we can accomplish as a community.
• PPS must establish best practices for building maintenance and communicate this clearly and transparently to our students, staff and the Princeton community. I will address this by collaborating with organizations like the Healthy School Campaign and the NJ Department of Health. The costs associated with the mold cleanup in 2018 was cited by the Board as one of the reasons for the budget cuts - a compelling argument for why I will prioritize upkeep of our buildings. To not do so will cost us time, money, public trust, and, according to some parents and teachers, adversely affect physical and mental health.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the election profile, email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

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