PASCACK VALLEY—Two candidates are contesting one Pascack Valley Regional High School Board seat in River Vale, and three candidates are vying for two open seats in both Montvale and Park Ridge‘s local school board races. Meanwhile, in Westwood, incumbents and one former board member are set to join the regional school board in three uncontested races. There are local board races without challengers in Emerson, Hillsdale, and Woodcliff Lake.
To get local candidates’ views, Pascack Press reached out to them, asking what they would change or do differently if elected or re-elected, how they might hold the line on future budget costs, and what they would focus on in their next board term.
What’s at stake overall
Generally, school budgets consume approximately 60% or more of local property tax revenue, with municipal government costing 25% and county government near 10%.
Although school districts account for the largest portion of local property taxes, school board elections are currently placed on the second page, or backside, of the mail-in ballots distributed to Bergen County voters.
Moreover, the school board races are located along the bottom portion of the digital screen that is visible to voters when they enter a voting booth during early voting or on Election Day, Nov. 5.
If you’ve requested and received a vote-by-mail ballot, remember to turn it over and vote in your local non-partisan school board race, county elections officials remind voters.
Also, if you plan to vote in-person during nine days of early voting (Oct. 26–Nov. 3 at nine countywide locations) or on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, remember to vote in the school board races located at the bottom of the voting booth’s digital screen, county elections officials said.
For information on early voting or requesting a vote-by-mail ballot, call your municipal clerk or visit the County Clerk’s Office website. Sample ballots for all 70 towns are available on the clerk’s website, and printed sample ballots should arrive via mail about a week before the Nov. 5 General Election.
PVRHSD School Board’s lone contested seat
Only one seat — in River Vale — is contested on the Pascack Valley Regional High School District school board. Competing for River Vale’s open seat are incumbent Kathleen “Katie” Keller and Eli Moallem. Moallem’s slogan is “Common Sense.”
Keller was appointed to fill former trustee Joseph Blundo’s unexpired term, which ends Dec. 31, 2024.
Also, two open seats in Hillsdale and Montvale are uncontested. Incumbent Gia C. DeGuzman is running unchallenged for Hillsdale’s open seat, and incumbent Debra K. Stephans is running uncontested for one open Montvale seat.
River Vale candidate Kathleen Keller said, “The current school board has made commendable strides in supporting students and staff, but more transparency and community engagement are needed. If elected for a new term, I would prioritize open communication, advocate for equitable resource distribution, and focus on enhancing mental health services for both students and educators.”
She said, “To hold the line on school budgets, I would explore cost-saving measures like energy-efficient infrastructure, shared services with neighboring districts, and optimizing technology investments. Additionally, prioritizing needs-based spending and leveraging state and federal grants could help reduce the reliance on local property taxes without compromising educational quality.”
If re-elected, she said she would focus on equity in education, mental health services, teacher support, budget efficiency, and community engagement.
River Vale candidate Eli Moallem told us, “Our schools drive our value as a community and drive the majority of our property taxes. Our community owns our schools, and the BOE should respect parents and taxpayers. Our rankings have deteriorated, and our costs have skyrocketed. We need to refocus on academic excellence and fiscal responsibility.”
As for controlling school costs, Moallem said, “Costs per pupil are up 60% in 10 years and 30% in the last three years. The administrative budget is up 28% in the last three years. This is unsustainable, and we need to be more efficient. We need to reduce non-educational expenses and look to the local business community for support and sponsorships.”
Moallem also said he would focus on seven issues, including parental rights and notification, career-oriented curriculum, skilled trade programs, improving rankings and accountability, respecting the taxpayer, excellence in education, and following the successful model of Bergen Academies.
Westwood Regional School Board
The regional board has nine members, which help govern a K-12 school district that serves Westwood and the Township of Washington. Last November, the Westwood regional board saw a defeat of four so-called “parental rights” candidates, who were replaced with candidates advocating an equitable public education for all students.
(See “Voters reject ‘parental rights’ candidates; local BOE changes,” Michael Olohan, Nov. 13, 2023, Pascack Press.)
This year, three open seats are uncontested. Filing for one three-year term representing the Township of Washington is incumbent Jorge Pertuz, who last year won election for an unexpired one-year term. Also filing for two full-term Westwood seats are incumbent Andrea Peck and former board member Carol Sue Mountain.
Pertuz’s slogan is “Back On Track.” Peck’s slogan is “Education, Civility, Collaboration” and Mountain’s slogan is “Voice of Reason.”
Pertuz told us, “The current school board is still working through divisions that formed during the pandemic. If re-elected, I will do my best to stay focused on the matters that affect the students. If I could change anything, it would be for all the trustees to put aside their personal differences and focus on the needs of the district.”
As for limiting school budget increases, Pertuz noted, “Our business administrator does a great job of keeping the budget increase within the allowable 2%. He is very resourceful and mindful of his responsibility to the taxpayer. Unfortunately, the actions of certain individuals have cost the district dearly in the form of legal expenses. As a trustee, I will be financially prudent.”
Asked about his areas of focus in a second term, he said, “It is a mistake to go into a BOE with individual goals. I plan to continue listening to parents’ and teachers’ issues. I will make sure they have notified the principal or superintendent of their concerns. If their issues are not addressed, I will bring them up to the board for input.”
Pertuz added, “My statements are mine alone and are not representative of the board or its individual members but may reflect some community sentiment.”
Peck told us, “The board has an opportunity to strengthen its collaborative communication and create a more cooperative atmosphere. Moving forward, our priority should be to focus solely on what benefits the students, staff, and community.”
She said of controlling costs, “Most of the budget is determined by factors beyond the board’s control. We have an excellent business administrator who diligently works to ensure fiscal responsibility while working alongside the board to support essential programs and manage building maintenance and upgrades.”
She said she hoped to support the newly appointed superintendent, Patrick McQueeney, to move the district forward, support local teachers and attract new teachers, and encourage responsible spending of taxpayer dollars “by all board members.”
“I appreciate all of the support I have received from the community so far and look forward to having more conversations in the near future,” Peck added.
Mountain said, “The BOE president has done a good job in navigating many challenges. With four new board members, there is more adherence to what a BOE is and how it should conduct its business. I would like to see more and enhanced communication with school families and the community.”
As for keeping school budget costs down, Mountain said, “We have an informed, diligent, and reliable business administrator. We will work with him and the superintendent to decide where funds are most needed. BOE members pay school taxes here. So does the business administrator. This year, unnecessary legal fees cost the district. We will see that this doesn’t happen again.”
If elected, she said, her topics of concern would be supporting teachers, attracting and keeping great teachers, how the curriculum addresses today’s and future challenges, the school environment and safety, and communication with stakeholders.
Contested Local BOE Elections
Montvale and Park Ridge both have contested school board races, with three candidates vying for two open seats in each race.
In Montvale, incumbents Christopher N. Colla and Ernie J. DiFiore are running as a team to retain their seats. Challenging them is Zaheera Khan, whose slogan is “Supporting Student Education.” Colla and DiFiore are campaigning under the slogan “Experienced, Conservative, Fair.”
Khan, an active participant at school board and PTO meetings, said, “I see the value of the school board, but there’s always room for improvement. If elected, I’ll work toward more transparency, equal opportunities for all students, increased teacher support, and better communication between the board and the community.”
On budget management, Khan said, “With rising costs, we all manage our budgets carefully—our school budget should be no different. By cutting waste, prioritizing resources, and making long-term investments, we can ensure financial sustainability without sacrificing education quality.”
If elected, Khan said her focus would be on five areas: strengthening dialogue between the board and community, ensuring equal access to resources, advocating for teacher support, promoting responsible budgeting, and focusing on student success.
DiFiore emphasized that change is constant, saying, “Our board, along with the superintendent, is always looking for ways to improve student performance, safety, and well-being. We strive to create the best school community possible.” He added, “We constantly look for grants to subsidize expenses and leverage state aid to fund ongoing renovations.”
If re-elected, DiFiore said his focus would be on four key areas developed through strategic planning: teaching and learning, supporting a community of learners, facilities and finances, and recruiting and supporting talented professionals.
Colla praised the board’s harmony, noting, “We were one of the few districts where all members attended the October 2023 convention and training together. We’re working on several referendum projects.” On budget savings, Colla said the business manager has done an excellent job balancing the budget and securing state and federal grants. He added, “We want to always do what’s best for the children, and by following that theme, we will have the right plan.”
In Park Ridge, incumbents David Bradler and newcomer David Shelton Hollers, Jr. are running as a team for two open seats. Their opponent, Christopher A. Amitrano, is campaigning under the slogan “Cut Your Taxes,” but did not respond to our survey by deadline.
Bradler, if re-elected, said he would prioritize transparency and open communication with teachers, parents, and the community. “While the current board has made progress, there’s always room for improvement. Strengthening communication will build trust and foster a more engaged environment,” he said.
Regarding budget savings, Bradler emphasized fiscal responsibility, suggesting strategies like expanding shared services, maximizing state and federal funding, and proactively addressing rising healthcare costs.
Bradler said his top focus areas would be retaining qualified teachers and improving morale, using data-driven decision-making, and increasing support for student mental health.
Shelton Hollers said, “The current board consists of mature Park Ridge residents who care about staff and students. If elected, I’m committed to fostering transparent communication so residents can see the value they get from their property taxes.”
Shelton Hollers added that school excellence directly correlates with property values. He stressed the need to focus on budget efficiency, remaining competitive for staff, and ensuring a safe learning environment for students and teachers. “Residents have made it clear they want politics out of the school board, and I’ll ensure the focus stays on educational excellence.”
Uncontested BOE Races
In uncontested races, Emerson Board president Behrooz Pazdar is running for one open seat. In Hillsdale, board president Justin Saxon and trustee Kevin Donatello are running for two open seats. In River Vale, incumbents Cheryl Berkowitz and Arthur W. White have filed for two open seats. In Woodcliff Lake, board president Jeffrey Hoffman and trustees Robert Wolpov and Cristen K. Giblin are running for the three open seats.