PASCACK VALLEY AREA—Of six valley towns with school board races slated for the Nov. 2 General Election, only River Vale offers a competitive contest.
However the regional school board races offer more choices as local and regional districts head into the 2021-2022 school year, unsure of the health and educational challenges that lie ahead.
The nomination deadline for filing for school board races was 4 p.m. on July 26.
In River Vale, five candidates are vying for two open school board seats, including the two incumbents, current board president Lorraine Waldes and trustee John Puccio.
Challenging the incumbents are Cheryl Berkowitz, Matthew de la Rosa, running on a “Kids in School” platform and Arthur W. White.
Earlier this year, voters in the district approved most of a $35.7 million schools referendum, approving two of three public questions to upgrade facilities and air conditioning, which will cost an average taxpayer $123 in annual taxes over a 25-year bonding period. Approximately 15% of the township’s 8,561 voters cast ballots in the April referendum.
Over the coming weeks, Pascack Press will highlight our local races and spotlight the school board candidates and issues they are taking on.
On average, local and regional school boards comprise the bulk of local property taxes, accounting for approximately two-thirds of taxes while the town and county costs comprise the remaining one-third of local taxes.
While town councils and committees are generally partisan governmental bodies — made up of Democrats, Republicans, Independents and other parties — school board members are generally viewed as non-partisan. Trustees offer guidance and input to the school administration to help achieve the school district’s goals.
Other towns with non-competitive races include Emerson, with incumbent Behrooz Pasdar running uncontested for one seat on the five-member board. The district includes Memorial Elementary School, Patrick M. Villano Elementary School and Emerson Junior-Senior High School.
In Hillsdale, two incumbents, President Shane Svorec and member Justin Saxton, are running unopposed for reelection. Svorec’s slogan: “Integrity, Commitment, Empathy.”
The Hillsdale district includes Ann Blanche Smith School, Meadowbrook Elementary and George G. White Middle School.
In Montvale, two incumbents also run uncontested for two seats in the Nov. 2 school board election. Board President Ernie DiFiore and Christopher N. Colla, whose slogan is “Academics, Innovation, Fairness” are the declared candidates.
In Park Ridge, Board Vice President Amara E. Wagner and President David Bradler will run uncontested for two open seats.
Also in Woodcliff Lake, three uncontested candidates include incumbent President Jeff Hoffman, incumbent Cristen Giblin and newcomer Adriana Maniscalco.
This fall, three seats are up for grabs on the Pascack Valley Regional Board of Education, one each in Montvale, Hillsdale and River Vale. Woodcliff Lake does not have an open seat. Only the regional board’s River Vale seat is contested, with incumbent Joseph Blundo facing off against Eli Moallem, whose slogan is “Excellence in Education.”
Running unopposed for a seat in Montvale is Debra Kradjian Stephans and unopposed in Hillsdale is Pat Luisi, campaigning under the banner of “Solid Educational Principles.”
In a competitive Westwood Regional School District board race, Washington Township newcomer James Schembari is challenging incumbent Dr. Frank Romano III, just elected president in the wake of Matthew Perrapato’s resignation, for one open seat.
Competing for one open unexpired one-year term are Joseph J. McCallister and new member Thomas Snee. Snee’s motto: “Advocate, Collaborate, Innovate.”
In Westwood, four candidates are competing for two open seats, including incumbent Andrew Gerstmayr: Kristen Pedersen, Andrea Peck, and Joseph B. Letizia, running under a “Transparency and STEM” motto.