SOUTH TOMS RIVER – Two people are vying to be the South Toms River representative on the Toms River Board of Education.
Joseph Jubert is running under the slogan “Honesty Integrity Tradition.” He did not respond to questions from The Berkeley Times by print deadline.
Krista Whittaker is running under the slogan “Make STR Matter.” Her answers are listed below, lightly edited for such things as punctuation or flow.
“I have been a nurse for 22 years, currently in pediatrics working at Aveanna Healthcare since 2016,” Whittaker said. “I provide care to patients in home settings that allows them to stay home with families instead of in group facilities or hospitals. Care includes trach/vent and other respiratory care, managing GT feedings and overall nutrition, palliative care for hospice cases, aiding in therapies such as speech, physical, and occupational. Overall manage their medical equipment and supplies.
“I have no experience in public office however I have been attending and speaking at Toms River BOE meetings for over 10 years advocating for all students, staff, and the community on topics of special education, funding, referendum in 2019, STR building repairs in 2016, the regionalization with Seaside to name a few – as well as speaking in Trenton (assembly education and committee) regarding (state) funding, special education, exit exam graduation requirements, and education adequacy.
“Over the years I have volunteered with St. Barnabas Church as a CCD teacher, assisting with Interfaith providing meals for the homeless, and a Eucharistic minister bringing communion to homebound members. I have been an active parent to my children’s school sport teams as “Team Mom” by providing meals for team feeds as well as snacks for afterschool practices, photographing their games, assisting with the associated clubs (i.e. Diamond club and Hitting Indians) apparel sales and fundraising. I have assisted many families with their child’s IEP/504 learning plans and assisting them with outsourced services. Currently I am assisting STR with their homework club being ran through the rec committee. From 2011-1016 I was a coach with Beachwood Soccer Club as well as on the board chairing the snack stand and all associated tasks pertaining to it.
“The biggest issues we are facing in the district all pertain to (state) funding, or lack thereof. Classroom sizes are growing due to cutting positions (including not hiring new when others retire), doing away with course programs, limited resources for teachers to utilize for curriculum, and the cuts to sports and clubs,” she said. There is a “lack of transparency by the administration as well as the accountability of the BOE. The tentative budget being submitted and passed when our current Board voted NO which includes the increase of school allocated taxes to 9.9% and the potential sale of two more properties is concerning to me and has me questioning to what capacity our BOE operates. The overall cost of providing education to our special needs population and (out of district) placement due to lack of resources in district needs to be looked into and sought different avenues as to what the district can do to keep our kids here.
“I’m not sure if I would add anything new to the district per se – I would want to bring back the district we once had. As a former alumni and a parent of three children who attended the district you can clearly tell the education received throughout the years has changed. Today our children are not able to pass exit exams which in itself makes one question what we need to change. I will say that the means of education solely based on technology needs to stop or at least be minimized as the kids these days have been sucked into the technology world.”
Council Race
There are two, three-year terms on the South Toms River Borough Council on the ballot. Republicans Sam Fennell and Kayla Rolzhausen will compete against Democrats GiGi Esparza and Denise Davis.
Berkeley
There are three, three-year spots on the ballot for the Berkeley Board of Education, which oversees the four elementary schools.
John MacMoyle, Anne Marie Trethaway, and Joseph R. Palmerson are running unopposed under the slogan “Students Family First.”
Ocean Gate
There are two, three-year terms available on the Borough Council. Two Republicans, James H. Fry and Russell Ernst and one Democrat, Dennis O’Leary, Jr. have filed to run.
There are two, three-year terms on the ballot for the Ocean Gate Board of Education. Andrew Scott doesn’t have a slogan, but Daniel Fleming’s slogan is “Children First Always.” Scott Vosper had filed to run but withdrew.
No one filed a petition to run for an unexpired two-year term.
Pine Beach
Republicans James Saxton and James Keesling are running for the two, three-year terms on the Borough Council. No Democrats filed to run.
