JACKSON – Five School Board candidates are running for three, 3-year terms on the school board on November 5.
Two of the candidates are former Board members, Gustavo “Gus” Acevedo running as the only candidate with a slogan, “Gus For Us” and Michael Walsh who are seeking to unseat incumbents Tina Kas and Erica Osmond. Also on the ballot is Jason Such.
The Jackson Times asked the candidates several questions concerning their background, past experience, thoughts on curriculum and how they felt about the fiscal future of the school district. Not all candidates responded for this article.
Michael Walsh said he was seeking to serve on the Board “to use my knowledge and experience as a teacher/administrator to maintain the high academic standards of the Jackson district while protecting the non-tested areas of the curriculum such as social studies, foreign language, music, art, physical education, special education and vocational education.
The candidate said he wanted “to keep a balanced budget as the state requires in the future there will be a need for cuts, let’s make them logically.”
Walsh is a retired educator (34 years in the Jackson School District) and taught 25 years in the science department of JMHS. He spent nine years as an administrator in Jackson (7 years in athletics/VP and two years as District Science Supervisor). “Also, I was on the Board of Ed. from 2017 to 2022, two years as president.”
“The Jackson School District has had a very difficult time within the last seven years with drastic state aid funding cuts that have impacted the district with staff reductions, program cuts, postponement of capital projects and most recently the forced sale of a school building that was closed to balance the budget,” he noted.
Walsh added, “With my knowledge of school budgets, I know I can try to direct the tax dollars to the projects in the district where they will be most efficiently used. I would try to cap increased spending on new programs that are not state or federally mandated and to make sure that the money we have continues to go into repairing and updating the aging facilities in our system.”
As to any changes he would like to see implemented within the school district regarding curriculum Walsh noted, “there is too much emphasis on the big tests while the educational system is moving away from teaching the whole student. It’s not just academics which are taught in our schools but communication skills, socialization skills, physical fitness, job readiness skills, etc.”
“I would see our district continue teaching more the basic technology programs such as keyboarding, software programs like Excel, Word, Power Point and other general computer skills that all students need to succeed. I would try to protect the extracurricular and co-curricular programs such as Middle School and High School Athletics, drama, band, clubs, etc. They are a very important part of a student’s educational experience.
As to the priority of capital improvement projects in next year’s budget Walsh said, “one of the largest drains on the school budget in the last years is the busing. We must get grants to improve the fleet if it is by changing to electric powered or other means.”
“If the state is going to force our students to walk, we must get with the township and improve sidewalks and crossings. We must remember to upgrade and maintain the facilities as there are still nine buildings with roofs, HVC systems and electrical systems which could be costly to replace if not maintained,” Walsh said.
Tina Kas said “I have served on the board for the past three years. The last two years, I have served as the vice president. I have been a committed member and feel that the board has done its best under the current circumstances.”
“We have been fighting and advocating hard for the district and there is much more to do. Being an incumbent, I am already up to date on all the issues at hand. It is a natural progression to continue my service,” she added.
Kas said she has a background in accounting “which has been helpful with all our financial challenges. Again, being an incumbent board member, I am currently abreast of the continued strategies and plans for the district.”
“The fiscal future is an ongoing challenge. As we all know, the state needs to restructure the S-2 funding formula. Between our administration and advocacy group, we are lobbying hard for fair distribution. The district has done an admirable job of providing a thorough and efficient education throughout these cuts,” she added.
Kas added, “we actively pursue grants that have helped tremendously within the district. Our students are applying to and getting into top colleges in the United States. All decisions and actions are implemented with the students’ best interests at the forefront.”
As to changes she would you like to see implemented within the school district regarding curriculum, Kas replied, “we are currently updating curriculum resources throughout the district. Our elementary enrichment programs are in the process of restructuring, which is beneficial to our students. In the future, I would like to set a goal for dual enrollment with the local college.”
Concerning priorities of capital improvement projects she answered, “I believe we should prioritize facility upgrades that enhance safety, infrastructure, and efficiency. A key focus should be on our Memorial Transportation Depot. Improvements, such as better maintenance facilities for the buses, repaving, and improved traffic flow.”
Kas noted, “these upgrades will help ensure smoother operations and a safer environment for both staff and the community.”
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