WARETOWN – Three candidates are competing for two, three-year seats on the Ocean Township Board of Education in the upcoming election. School board races are non-partisan and sometimes candidates run together under the same campaign slogan. In this case, all three individuals have chosen separate slogans.
Candidate responses to key issues are presented below, organized alphabetically with some editing:
Justin Pimm
Pride Persistence Perseverance
“I have lived in Waretown my whole life. I went through the entire school district, starting out at Waretown Elementary to graduating from Southern Regional. I have two young children that are currently in the district. I have been on the Board of Education for over a year now and hope to continue to serve.”
Pimm said he is running for the school board “to advocate and ensure a great education for our kids, and on behalf of our parents. Our school system is a community of amazing families, and I’m just another parent willing to raise my hand to help; and to find that perfect balance of resources and budget.”
As far as investigating the possibility of the district merging with another district, Pimm answered: “I personally think it would be a waste of tax dollars and I think it would be unfair to the kids to not get the great experience I had going through our small district. There also must be a school system willing to take us; all our surrounding districts are already at the seams with children. This would be a disadvantage with large class sizes. One of the reasons I chose to raise my children here is because of the small class sizes and great teachers.”
Pimm identified state funding as one of the top concerns for the district, saying “When we address the formula more concretely and more equally structured, we can start the conversation on how we can provide an enhanced teaching environment for our education professionals, and therefore an enhanced learning environment for our students. I have the utmost respect for our School Administration and their conservative spending. However, without proper funding via the state, our ability to function is capped.”
As far as the board’s decision to raise taxes this year, Pimm said “All of our surrounding districts are having the same issues with the loss of funding. In order to stay ahead of this issue, we had to look further into the future which is what the tax increase purpose was for as well as the increase of special education cost. I will work with our school administration to ensure proper use of these funds. Again, I have the utmost respect for our School Administration and their conservative spending. However, without proper funding via the state, our ability to function is capped. By restructuring S-2, our resources will be expanded.”
Pimm said the district had looked into broadcasting meetings and found it not feasible. As far as issues on transparency, accountability and engagement, Pimm said that meeting dates are listed and that he’d like to see more people attend these meetings. “However, the turnout is always low. Please also note, if someone is unable to attend the meetings, the meeting minutes are always posted on the school website afterward.”
Regarding controversial curriculum mandates, Pimm said: “The school’s job is to teach academics, I feel it should be the parents to instill what they view is right for their children. We are not running on the federal level, and I won’t discuss federal issues. I care about providing local fixes to local issues. My job is to evaluate policies that create a safe environment for our kids, and a safe environment for our education professionals.”
Brian D. Tart
Educated and Ethical
“I was born and raised in Waretown my whole life as was my father. My mother taught in Waretown Elementary School for 23 years. My wife and I have one child, who we plan to ultimately send to the same schools where I received my education.”
After graduating from Ocean County College, Tart went on to graduate from Kean University. His employment after he received his teaching degree makes school funding a very real subject to him.
“I originally taught history and special education at Jackson Memorial High School for eight years,” Tart said. “I didn’t want to leave but I had an opportunity to teach heavy equipment operation at Ocean County Vocational School in Jackson. I’ve been there for three years.”
As part of his responsibilities at Jackson Memorial, Tart coached the girls bowling team. He felt the writing was on the wall as far as potential layoffs in the district due to S-2 funding cuts. Tart said he was told that the environment at the vocational school would most likely give him more stability.
“I was on the right side of history as far as this went. But I just feel bad. I have a lot of friends and colleagues still working in Jackson. It was a great district. It was a powerhouse of a school.”
Tart is seeking re-election to a third term on the school board. When people express issues with current tax increases, Tart feels they need to be reminded that the local district didn’t take full tax increases before the S-2 funding cuts.
The recent tax increases just happened to coincide with recent tax assessments according to Tart. He suggested that if a property owner’s taxes increased by $1,000, only $440 was attributable to school taxes.
One of the issues the district is experiencing is the cost of out of district placements and increased tuition costs for students who move on to Southern Regional.
Tart pointed out that the district has done all it can to reduce costs, which includes two administrators pulling double duty for jobs that previously were individual positions. The cost of joining lawsuits brought by other districts concerning S-2 funding would mean appropriating money for legal fees, which the district cannot afford. Tart also said there was no guarantee of a return.
As far as the idea of regionalizing the school, Tart said he gets frustrated when people don’t look at the overall picture. For one, he said the local district is cheapest compared to other local districts. He added that “Once you lose the school, you lose the town.”
Tart also said that the district’s association with Southern Regional is important and that it is rated higher than other high schools in Ocean County.
“I encourage people to come to board meetings, so they get a better understanding of what’s going on. We’ve looked around at other districts in the county and found that a majority of districts do not broadcast their meetings. I’m not opposed to meetings being broadcast as long as its financially feasible”
As far as the topics that some districts have had issues concerning state mandates regarding LGBTQ+ curriculum and book bans, Tart has not seen them come up as an issue. He feels it is critical to follow the law.
Deborah A. Thomas
Excellent Economical Education
Deborah A. Thomas said she brings a wealth of experience from her 35-year career in public service with the State of New Jersey, including a role as Deputy Chief of Investigations in the Attorney General’s Office. With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rider University, her background in financial analysis, auditing, and oversight positions her to address the district’s financial concerns. She has also been active in the community as a substitute teacher, religious education volunteer, and helpline operator.
“I am running for the Board of Education because I care deeply about Waretown’s students, teachers, and community. While I did not attend local schools, I am fully committed to improving the quality of education in Waretown.”
“The recent 9.9% tax increase, with no clear explanation from the Board, demonstrates why we need responsible leadership. This increase affects everyone in our community – students, parents, teachers and taxpayers alike. When concerned residents attended board meetings seeking answers, the Board failed to adequately explain why this increase was necessary or how the additional funds would benefit our students. This lack of transparency is deeply troubling.”
“As someone who values transparency and responsible financial management, I am committed to holding the Board accountable. Our community deserves to know how every dollar is being spent. I want to ensure that these funds are directed where they will have the most impact – in our classrooms, benefiting our students and all taxpayers. If elected, I will work tirelessly to ensure that the Board’s decisions are made with the best interests of our entire community in mind.”
Thomas supports conducting a study on whether Waretown should merge with another district, viewing it as a necessary step to fully understand the pros and cons. She is, however, open to exploring shared services with neighboring districts as a potential cost-saving measure without the challenges of a merger. Her focus is on ensuring the community has a voice in any decision and that transparency is maintained.
On district needs, Thomas emphasizes the importance of improving the quality of education, as Waretown’s schools currently rank in the bottom 50% of public schools in New Jersey. She is committed to addressing below-average test scores in math and reading, ensuring that financial resources are allocated efficiently, and cutting unnecessary administrative costs.
Thomas also advocates for live-streaming Board of Education meetings, a step she believes would significantly enhance transparency. She points out that many other municipalities in Ocean County already broadcast their meetings, which allows working families and senior citizens to stay informed. For Thomas, broadcasting meetings is a vital way to include the entire community in the decision-making process.
“I am deeply committed to transparency and accountability and I firmly believe the Board of Education meetings should be broadcast and recorded. Transparency is a cornerstone of good governance, and the absence of live-streaming for these meetings is a significant barrier to open communication and community involvement.”
Regarding controversial issues such as LGBT+ mandates and book bans, Thomas believes schools should remain neutral and focused on providing a high-quality education. She is against book bans, emphasizing the importance of keeping politics out of the classroom and prioritizing balanced learning environments.
Thomas’ candidacy centers on ensuring transparency, improving educational outcomes, and making financially responsible decisions for the district, with a focus on involving the entire community in these processes. More information is available at deborahthomasboe.com.
