TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Three candidates are vying for two open three-year Westwood seats on the Westwood Regional School District (WWRSD) school board, with incumbent Jason Garcia being challenged by newcomers Sabrina Krawczyk and Nicole De Bonis in the Nov. 4 election.
Anila K. Siraj is running unopposed for a three-year Washington Township seat on the nine-member regional K-12 board. As Siraj is unopposed, her election will fill the township seat left vacant by Douglas Cusato’s ethics-related removal in September. (See “Cusato removed from Westwood Regional school board over incomplete training,” by John Snyder, Oct. 9, 2025, thepressgroup.net.)
The district enrolls about 2,800 students across four K–5 neighborhood elementary schools—Berkeley, Brookside, Jessie F. George, and Washington—along with Westwood Regional Middle School (grades 6–8) and Westwood Regional High School (grades 9–12). Average class size is about 22 students.
We asked the candidates about their platforms and top three goals, in addition to where voters can find more information. Candidate Nicole DeBonis did not answer our emailed questions but we included information from her campaign website.
The candidates at a glance
Anila K. Siraj, a Washington Township resident since 2014, is running unopposed for a three-year seat representing the township on the regional board. She and her husband have two children—a daughter in sixth grade and a son in ninth grade—both of whom attended Washington Elementary School. Siraj served as co-president of the school’s PSO for the past two years.
She said she found that experience “extremely rewarding” and hopes to bring that same commitment to her role on the board. “Our school district and the board have navigated many challenges,” Siraj said. “My goal is to work collaboratively with the superintendent and board to build on their efforts in strengthening our schools and ensuring that every student receives a high-quality education in a supportive, enriching environment.”
Siraj added that she values open communication and community engagement and looks forward to contributing to the district’s continued growth.
Nicole De Bonis is the district’s director of curriculum and instruction for grades Pre-K through 12. She is married with two children, has been a class parent at Brookside Elementary since 2016, and belongs to seven professional education organizations.
Sabrina Krawczyk, a 12-year resident and procurement/sourcing manager, volunteers as a Girl Scout co-leader and serves on local religious and school committees.
Jason Garcia is a 10-year-plus Westwood resident with one daughter. He has served on the WWRSD Board of Education for the past three years and has more than 30 years’ experience mentoring youth and coaching baseball, softball, football, and basketball.
Their priorities
Garcia said his top three challenges include being fiscally responsible without compromising student programs; serving a growing community while keeping class sizes small; and keeping taxes down while competing with nearby towns who offer the “most competitive” teacher wages in the area.
He said during his last three years on the board, the board has raised expectations for academic rigor; improved governance and communication; negotiated a fair contract that supports staff and taxpayers; hired a new superintendent; and rebuilt trust “after years of distraction.”
“For more than 30 years, I’ve mentored kids and volunteered in and throughout my communities, enhancing youth activities and programs while coaching baseball, softball, football, and both boys’ and girls’ basketball. Professionally, I work in oncology, where teamwork, compassion, and accountability are essential values that also guide my approach to public service,” Garcia said.
Krawczyk lists her top three issues as housing development, the state funding formula, and the teacher shortage. She said the district does not have a seat with developers at the table and does not know what’s coming down the pike.
In addition, uncertain and declining state aid formulas, increasing health insurance costs, shortages of class aides and teachers, and declining federal funding. She noted, “Districts will have to be creative to attract the best of the best and support all children in accessing a free and appropriate public education.”
She said her platform included empowering every voice, improving district communications, and clearly stating district policies.
“My campaign is about making sure everyone in our school family: students, parents, teachers, staff, neighbors and voters are celebrated for their unique perspectives and able to share them within our community. For 10 years I have attended Board meetings, sharing the positive things I have seen, offering ideas about ways we could look at things differently, and voicing concerns when necessary. I have shared my thoughts on a range of topics: class size, security, curriculum costs, policy adherence, teacher appreciation and cost savings,” Krawczyk said.
De Bonis’s website states her extensive background in instructional leadership and curriculum development will be an asset to the district. She said she successfully implemented new programs and managed budgets to ensure they were aligned with instructional goals.
De Bonis wrote, “The ability to analyze and leverage student data is a critical skill I bring to the table,” she wrote, adding “my career-long commitment to educational development and my direct experience in curriculum, data analysis, and community relations will enable me to make a meaningful contribution to the Westwood Board of Education.”
To learn more
- Siraj has a campaign page on Facebook.
- Garcia can be reached via Facebook.
- Krawczyk can be reached on Instagram and Facebook.
- De Bonis’s campaign info can be found at her website.
The school board next meets on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Hurley Theater in the high school.