Toms River School Board Election 2020: Rachel Remelgado

TOMS RIVER, NJ — When voters go to the polls Nov. 3, they will be asked to choose three people to serve on the Toms River Regional Board of Education.

There are nine people seeking those three seats, which are three-year terms on the board.

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.

Here are the answers from Rachel Remelgado, who is running under the Children First slogan. Her running mates are Michele Williams and Daynne Glover.

Previous elective office, if any:

None

Does anyone in your family work for the school district or in politics?

No

Education

Bachelor of Arts — Psychology, Monmouth University
Master of Science — Psychiatric Rehabilitation, UMDNJ

Occupation

Prior social services manager in mental health and addiction treatment

Why are you seeking a seat on the school board?

I want to serve my community by being an advocate for the children of Toms River Regional Schools. Our children deserve high quality academics as well as extracurricular activities like fine arts, sports and other programs that help them develop the life skills they need. Our community is only as strong as our schools. If our schools fail, children and stakeholders lose out. Our district is in a financial crisis due to ongoing devastating state aid cuts. We need school board members who will educate themselves on the issue and be fierce advocates for our district. When children grow up to be successful members of society, they strengthen and give back to the communities that helped them thrive. Ultimately, their successes benefit our local businesses, town vitalization and home property values.

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

Our biggest issue is school funding, and our district needs someone who will fight to get our fair share from the state. Nearly $70 million in state aid for our schools has already been cut since 2009, and according to the S2 legislation, we are targeted to lose another projected $54 million by 2025. I fully support the lawsuit our district has filed against the state. We need these funds to provide a thorough and efficient education to our children, keep our students and staff safe, and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

I began attending school board meetings when I started to hear rumblings about tax increases and programs being in jeopardy because of the loss of the state aid. I researched and learned about the legislation that put us in this precarious situation. I traveled to Maplewood to attend Governor Murphy’s Town Hall meeting where I advocated for our district. I testified at the state budget hearings this year and continue to reach out to state Budget Committee members. I have attended rallies including the December gathering in Trenton and a local Mayors Breakfast to get the attention of Senate President Steven Sweeney. As a school board member, I will continue to speak out in support of fair funding for all public schools in NJ, especially the Toms River Regional School District.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking to serve on the school board seat?

As a parent and resident, I have educated myself on the issues and then advocated for our students and taxpayers with politicians at all levels. It is this history of advocacy and understanding of the current funding crisis that helps me stand out from some of the other candidates. I will serve my position with honesty, integrity and respect for others. I will work together with fellow board members and administration to come to a consensus that prioritizes the needs of our students. There will be times when we won’t agree, however, I understand the importance of maintaining professionalism, practicing and following ethical standards and protocol and working as a team to accomplish the organization’s goals.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put us into new territory. School districts around the state have had to respond to mandates passed down by the Department of Education to provide a safe learning environment for students, educators and staff. Adapting and adjusting to the many changes have also taken an emotional toll on our community. I will work toward identifying and implementing available resources that will address the needs of our staff and students to care for and protect their physical, mental and emotional health. This will be my top priority because we need to get our students back to a safe in-person setting as soon as possible.

The district needs to be transparent and communicate effectively with all stakeholders. It's especially necessary on financial matters. It is important that taxpayers understand the flow of funds as well as the connection between district spending and how state mandates drive many decisions that are made. Since our district is primarily funded with public tax dollars, I will promote open and ongoing communication with parents and community members to provide a partnership with full transparency.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you will be effective on the school board?

The success of our children is my, and my husband's, greatest accomplishment. Our son is a 2020 graduate of High School North and OCVTS Culinary Arts. He is also an Eagle Scout who contributed to his community by rebuilding boardwalks in Cattus Island destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Our daughter is a junior at High School North. She is a varsity cheerleader, member of Thespian Troupe 7455, Theater and Dance Academies and vice president of the Nautical Stars Theater Company. Raising conscientious, responsible, insightful and kind young adults requires a combination of many skills like active listening, providing guidance and support, discipline when needed and practicing good judgement. All of these skills would make me an effective school board member.

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

I believe in the importance of living by example and working toward solutions. I also choose to learn from past mistakes and accomplishments, with humility and an open mind. Regarding our school funding fight, we may have lost some battles along the way, but the war is not over. I will continue my advocacy efforts to put pressure on the state to supply the financial support that is required by law to provide a thorough and efficient education to our students and to lift the burden off the Toms River taxpayers. In addition to curriculum and activities, the physical, mental and emotional health of our staff and students are especially important and must not be overlooked or underprioritized during the current pandemic we are navigating. I will encourage a partnership with parents and our community through open and ongoing communication. We must put our differences aside and work together because we are at our best when we put "Children First."

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I took a class in college called Crisis Intervention. The professor told us that the Chinese symbol for crisis is made up of two characters, danger and opportunity. That lesson helped shape how I face challenges in my life. I initially react with fear or panic, like most people. But once the initial response passes, I am left with a sense of comfort and optimism, knowing that there will be a lesson and opportunity for growth by the end of the situation. Our community has faced many challenges just within the past decade, including the COVID-19 pandemic we are still navigating. We have all found strength within each other and resources were developed out of need. The road has been less than smooth for our educators, students and parents. However, I am hopeful that we will come together as a unified group and come out of this crisis stronger and better than before with lessons learned and empathy and understanding for one another.