Meet The Candidate: Jay Patel For South Brunswick BOE

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Resident Jay Patel is running for a seat on the South Brunswick Board of Education this November. In a Q&A with Patch, Patel talked about his plans for the school district.

The candidate said he would advocate for providing a challenging curriculum that taps into every child’s potential. He feels there is a lack of “transparency, consistent and timely communications from the BoE” to stakeholders. And if elected, he plans to change that.

Patel is running on a slate along with Deepa Karthik and Erin Popolo. Election Day is Nov. 2 and early voting is now open.

Read below to learn more about Patel and his platform for the upcoming election in South Brunswick.

Name: Jay Patel

Position Sought: Member, South Brunswick Board of Education

Age (as of Election Day): 46

Party Affiliation: Non-partisan

Family: Spouse, Tejal; son, Ishan; daughter, Diya; parents, Kanti and Radha Patel

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education: Masters

Occupation: Manager, Telecommunication Infrastructure Engineer

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: None

Campaign website: None

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have always been an active member of the local community and I have a sincere desire to serve the community and do what’s right for our kids. So, when this opportunity presented itself, I naturally embraced it because it allows me to continue to serve and give back to this community. When I began this journey, I had only general knowledge of what the BoE is and what it does. However, through online research, interactions with current BoE members, and discussions within the community stakeholders in general, I have gained much deeper insights into the purpose of the BoE and the roles and responsibilities of a member. The main role of the BoE is to serve the people of the community and be a liaison between the various stakeholders and the school administration. I strongly believe in order to do that effectively the school board should consist of members from diverse backgrounds, education, and various experiences who have a strong desire to make a change for the better and I know that I hold all those values.

The single most pressing issue facing our board, district, is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

One major issue of concern currently is this new “norm” that we live in post-COVID pandemic. Each day it seems to be a new struggle to navigate through the everchanging rules and regulations both for parents and students. There is no doubt that all these unknowns and changes cause anxiety and frustration. I acknowledge that the administration has put in tremendous efforts to help alleviate the frustrations and anxieties but there is much more that can be done. We need to ensure that there are clear and concise communications in a timely manner. Furthermore, the administration must be proactive in documenting lessons learned from these challenges so that they are prepared to pivot successfully when the need arises. In addition, there are also multiple challenges that the school administration is facing with shortages of school bus drivers, admin personnel, teachers, and cafeteria personnel. We need to work together as a community to help resolve these issues so that the kids’ education does not suffer.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Board of Education members serve their communities by collaborating, respecting fellow BoE members and all stakeholders, encouraging transparent communications, being a good listener, being tuned in to the challenges that students and parents are facing, and having a strong desire to improve public education. Candidates seeking this post should be looking out for the best interest of the community, more importantly, the students, parents, and the school district staff. It’s imperative the board should have parents that have children in the system, members from diverse backgrounds, education, professional experiences as well as those that are actively involved - which contributes to the effectiveness of not just the board but the community. With 15+ years of leadership experience, being an active community member, and a parent of two high school students within the district, I am confident that I have all those qualities

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

While I acknowledge that the BoE is tasked with making difficult decisions on a daily basis and there are multiple challenges that the Board must overcome, the BoE must acknowledge that they are there to serve the community and the students. And this is one area they can improve on, acknowledging and listening to the concerns of the parents, students, and the SB community. As a parent of two school children, my biggest concern is the lack of transparency, consistent and timely communications from the BoE to the South Brunswick School District stakeholders. Another major issue is parents are hesitant to raise their concerns because they have consistently observed a pattern that discourages them from providing open and honest feedback, and they feel their feedback goes into a black box with no two-way communication. This has got to change. Parents and students have the biggest stake in public education, and we must find a way to encourage their participation and foster a culture that empowers them to raise their concerns.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As a BoE member, I want equality in the school system. I want to ensure that all concerns are heard, reviewed and that ample attention is given to the issues that are important to the members of the South Brunswick community to nurture our children’s well-being, provide opportunities for all students to achieve at high levels, and empower them for future success. I want to advocate raising the standards for all students and providing a challenging curriculum that taps into every child’s maximum potential for the overall growth of this township.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The values and experience I bring with me working with people from diverse backgrounds and leadership roles are significant assets for this job. I have the courage to ask tough questions and defend and share my views, but I am also respectful and accepting of the views of others and am flexible to change if the proposed outcome supports the progress of the school district and community as a whole.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

No good work can be accomplished without integrity. We need honest people who value their community and actively seek out positive change for everyone.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am running for a seat on the South Brunswick Board of Education along with two wonderful parents - Deepa Karthik and Erin Popolo and collectively we stand for transparency, leadership, mental health, and inclusivity.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

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