Toms River School Board 2019: Kathleen Eagan

TOMS RIVER, NJ — As Election Day 2019 nears, Patch is sharing profiles of the candidates for local office.

The Toms River Regional Board of Education has three, three-year terms on the ballot for 2019. Six candidates are vying for the seat representing Toms River. Two are vying to represent Beachwood, and two are vying to represent Pine Beach.

Kathleen Eagan is one of the six candidates for the Toms River seat. Also seeking the Toms River seat are Lisa Natale-Contessa, Sean F. Monahan, Jeffrey Dingsor, Wendell J. Ferandos, and Brian M. Quinn.

Anthony J. Trump and Kevin Kidney are vying for the Pine Beach seat, and Melissa Morrison and Alex Mizenko are seeking the Beachwood seat.

Patch asked each candidate the same questions. Here are Eagan's answers.

Name: Kathleen Eagan

Age: 67

Employment: A retired teacher, from Toms River Schools.

Tell us about your public service (township boards, committees you sit on): I am a member of a Legislative Action Committee. This committee has afforded me opportunities to meet and have extensive discussions with various legislators, as well as the state Board of Education on many different topics.

Any previous elected office (council, school board, etc)? How many years have you served? I was elected president of Toms River Education Association and I proudly served that position for 13 years. As a result, I have developed strong listening skills, and the ability to work with many people with various ideas. As a result, and having been also elected as president of Ocean County Education Association for six years, I am well-versed in regulations that affect the running of a school system.

What conflicts would you have (what won't you be able to vote on) if elected? Because I have a daughter that teaches at TR HS East for 12 years, I will not be able to negotiate TREA contracts.

Tell us about the most important thing you do that has nothing to do with the schools or your employment: The most important thing outside of my involvement with the school district is being a grandmother to seven wonderful children. Four of these grandchildren attend Toms River Schools, which just adds to my drive of shaping the district for the children of Toms River and helping it to become a top school district in this state.

What will you do if you are elected to the school board? If I am elected to the school board, I will ensure transparency of school budgets and cut wasteful spending. Our current budget is not being prioritized on school curriculum and extracurricular activities. These key elements of our school district are being put in jeopardy and I will fight for the children while not allowing wasteful spending which would affect our township taxes. I am committed to being open and honest to the township. Our state funding formula is not giving our township a fair share and I intend to work with the state legislators to address this issue as soon as I am elected.

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