Election 2022: James Lavan For South Brunswick Board Of Education

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Six candidates are running for three seats on the South Brunswick Board of Education this year.

A teacher, James Lavan has a son currently studying in the school district. Below is Lavan's candidate profile.

(All of the candidates were given the same questions)

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses provided by the County clerk's office. All responses received will be published between now and Nov. 8 general election. Local candidates who did not receive the questionnaire from Patch can contact sarah.salvadore@patch.com.

Name: James Lavan

Age: 42

Town of residence: South Brunswick

Position sought: School Board

Family: Wife Brenda, and 10-year-old son, Kevin.

Education: Masters in Education from Pace University, Bachelors in Management Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University, and Minor in History

Occupation: Teacher

Previous or current elected appointed office: None

Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/people/James-Lavan-Candidate-for-SBSD-School-Board/100071875343909/

Why are you seeking to run for School Board?

I’m running because I’m the father of a 5th-grade student. South Brunswick has good schools because we have wonderful families and wonderful teachers. My son has had amazing, dedicated, and loving teachers for his entire school experience and I’m grateful. Unfortunately, our Board and Superintendent are losing focus on families and educating children. Instead, they are pushing radical racial ideology and gender ideology while ignoring real problems for students, like learning loss from COVID and virtual school. When a school system starts promoting racial discrimination and withholding information from parents about their child’s mental health, gender, and sexuality, then parents need to have a voice and elect new leadership that is willing to protect our children from extreme ideologies that have no place in schools. As a Board member, I will work to refocus the priorities of our administration to again put families and educate children first.

South Brunswick saw its funding cut by more than $1.7 million in 2022-23. What do you plan to do to ensure no services are affected?

This is a tough topic because budgetary requirements mean that hard decisions need to be made by weighing all options and making sober decisions. Once again, we have a great school system because we have amazing families and amazing teachers. Students and teachers need to be the priority in any excellent school system. With this firmly held priority, the first place I would look is toward our top-heavy administrative costs. Restructuring these positions and taking similar actions are ways that costs can be cut while not affecting services and resources for students. Our administrators, who are not in the classroom with children, are paid far, far more than the teachers and paraprofessionals that directly impact our children each day. Also, I would work with my fellow board members to better understand the state funding formula that resulted in our budget cut. By knowing what criteria is used by the state to allocate funding, we can work as a Board to ensure our schools and community get the funds needed to keep our schools as wonderful as they are.

What is your view on the sexual education curriculum that Gov. Murphy put forth earlier this year?

I think that South Brunswick will begin to lose families and students if they push sexual ideology that rejects parents' personal, religious, and moral beliefs on how they wish to raise their children in our wonderfully diverse community. Personally, I’m opting my 10-year-old son out of it because I do not believe sexualizing young children is a good idea. I encourage every parent to opt their child out if they choose to. Children are innocent and impressionable, and it is a parent’s responsibility to decide how and when these topics are taught to their children. On this topic, I have communicated with our Superintendent and School Board. As a teacher myself, I know how important it is to be kind, compassionate, and supportive to students who are going through mental and emotional difficulties. During these times children need their parents the most. They need the love of their families, the support of their parents, and honesty.

What according to you is the biggest issue facing the school district currently?

The most important challenge facing SB Schools is trust. Parents need to be able to trust that our Superintendent and Board are putting our children and families first. When our administration is pushing a curriculum that promotes racial discrimination under the guise of “equity” and “anti-racism”, that trust is broken. The radical idea that it is acceptable to make it harder for Indian and Asian children to get into college because they are “overrepresented minorities” is both racist and unacceptable, yet our Superintendent and Board have added this radical ideology to our 5th-grade curriculum. SB schools must reject a racial caste system that places Indians and Asians at the bottom in the name of equity. There is no place for bigotry, racism or hatred in our schools. As a board member, I will protect our children by putting justice, equality and families first. Parents also need to trust that families and children are the district’s priority. I would fight to make sure we protect our most vulnerable children and ensure that families can provide care and support for children going through an emotional crisis, identity crisis, and mental health crisis.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

What sets me apart is I have a child currently in South Brunswick Schools, I'm a teacher, and I am willing to speak up to protect children and parents when I see something wrong. I will push for honesty and transparency so that parents can be confident in our schools and administration.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

I encourage residents and parents to talk to friends and family. If you want a Board member that will protect our children and fight for families, then vote for me and don’t be afraid to speak up. We can only make the change we want to see in schools if we are not afraid to speak up for honesty, justice, and equality.

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