Take Five: Westfield School Board Candidate Andrew Bauer

WESTFIELD, NJ — There are seats opening up on the Westfield Board of Education and Patch caught up with the candidates ahead of the general election this November.

Questionnaires were sent out out to all candidates registered with the County Clerk's Office in the 2019 general election using the email addresses they went on file with. The responses will be posted on the site by those who submitted in the order in which they were received. They will also be included in an election preview wrap.

This Take Five features Andrew Bauer. His responses to the questions are below and unedited.

1. Why are you running for BOE?

My wife Debbie and I moved to Westfield from Brooklyn 10 years ago and our three kids are currently spread across three schools in the district - a 10th grader at Westfield High School, a 7th grader at Edison Intermediate and a 4th grader at Tamaques. As I attended Board of Education meetings over the past two years, I began to feel I could make a positive contribution. My final decision was not because I have specific expertise, nor because I am advocating for one particular change. I decided to run because I care deeply about our public schools and I believe my diverse experiences (CPA /finance professional/technology CEO) have prepared me to be a thoughtful and productive representative of the community. I have worked particularly hard over the past three months to prepare, speaking to a wide range of knowledgeable people about the district: Dr. Dolan, Business Mgr Dana Sullivan, 4 of our principals, PTO presidents, current Board members, former Board members, Police Chief Battiloro, Mayor Brindle and many, many parents.

2. What is the biggest challenge facing schools in your town, and how will you address it?

I feel very fortunate to live in a town with such wonderful schools. I have deep appreciation for our teachers, principals, support staff and administration. In the future, I feel the way to make our district even stronger is to increase communication, prioritize innovation and invest in the well-being of our students.

My first priority is to increase the frequency and diversity of communication between the community and the Board/Administration. An improved dialogue will ensure decision makers are better informed and that parents are more confident their voices are being heard. Potential initiatives include:

Soliciting feedback through surveys from students, teachers and parents as a way to inform the administration of the community’s priorities

Live streaming Board of Education meetings to offer better accessibility and drive engagement

Informal gatherings with the Superintendent and a Board member to provide an informal atmosphere for questions and an exchange of ideas

My second priority is to infuse a spirit of innovation across our curriculum & programming. This involves researching successful initiatives and best practices from other districts. Examples of ideas for evaluation include:

Block schedules and enrichment mornings as alternatives to give older students more flexibility when addressing academic demands and a healthy lifestyle

More robust programming for parents to help them manage the challenges and pressures their children face

My third priority is to further increase our investment in the well-being of our students. I was pleased that Westfield schools made SEL (Social & Emotional Learning) a focus last year. Going forward, I want to ensure we are monitoring previous initiatives to gauge impact and that we stay current on the most recent research to guide our future decisions & policy. Initiatives for consideration should include:

Implementing a recurring survey of older students to gauge whether district initiatives are having an impact on stress & anxiety

Exploring alternatives to provide additional time for older students to manage academic and extracurricular burdens (Block scheduling, enrichment mornings)

Evaluating if the ratios of counselors at middle and high school are appropriate to properly serve students

3. What three words would you use to describe yourself to someone who has never met you?

• Thoughtful
• Diligent
• Approachable

4. What experience in your background has prepared you to be an effective leader?

I believe that I have a number of characteristics and experiences that provide a strong foundation as a member of the Board of Education. First, as a parent with kids attending elementary, intermediate and Westfield High School, I am experiencing the same concerns and challenges as parents throughout our community. If I have the privilege to serve as a Board member, I will consider each issue through the eyes of both an engaged policymaker and a caring parent. Second, I am a former certified accountant with ten years experience as an auditor and investment banker. I am well qualified to be a active contributor to the planning and budgeting process, as well as a careful steward with your tax dollars. Third, I have spent the last seven years as CEO of a software company that has worked with thousands of schools across the country. I have a deep appreciation for the role of technology in schools and how districts have been successful. Lastly, I have been a regular attendee of Board meetings over the past two years and have spoken to over a dozen current and former Board of Education members (In Westfield and across other districts) to prepare myself for the role.

5. Tell me something about you, like hobbies or interests, that have nothing to do with the campaign.

My favorite weeks of the year are when our family gets up to Okemo in the Winter to ski or to LBI in the summer to build sand castles and east big breakfasts. My kids make each other howl with laughter when they do an impression of me as I am dejectedly watching my favorite college football team lose. I have an odd attachment to my 10 year old Toyota Camry.

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