Elections
Photo Credit: Submitted Photos
Photo Credit: Submitted Photos
Photo Credit: Submitted Photos
Photo Credit: Submitted Photos
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By Sam Haut
Published October 7, 2024 at 6:00 AM
READINGTON, NJ - Linda Rad, Rich Pieros and David Rizza are running for the Readington board of education.
Rad, who worked as a bus driver with Readington for 31 years and lived in the township for 37 years, has raised two children in the school system.
She is running for the board because she wants parents to have the same “blessed feeling” that she had when her children attended Readington schools, for kids to get knowledge from a core curriculum, for parents to be active in their child’s development and for teachers to be “given resources and support to be successful.”
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Pieros worked as a roofing contractor for 50 years, turning it into a construction company called Pieros Construction Co. that was acquired by Tecta America in 2023. He previously served on the board of directors for the National Roofing Contractors Association, and was chairman and committee member of the Hunterdon County Ducks Unlimited Chapter.
Pieros said he’s running for the board because he wants to provide “children with the best opportunity and skill set to prepare for their next life journey and challenges moving into high school and beyond,” and make sure parents, teachers and the school administration are involved to give children a good education.
Rizza got an undergraduate degree in finance from Rutgers University, and has lived in Readington for six years with his wife, son and two rescue dogs, and graduated from Hunterdon Central.
Rizza said the reason he’s running is because he “believes in the importance of public education and the role the school board has in ensuring children have a positive educational experience,” and that the district should “put the needs of the children first by having the administration, teachers and school board partner with parents to ensure each child receives the best education.”
For all three, the most important issue is making sure children get a good education, which they would accomplish by listening more to parents and community members.
“As a Readington board member, this means working with the administration and parents so the learning is focused on core curriculum that prepares students for their next level,” they said. “Parents and community members have an important role in their child’s education, and the administration should continue to listen to their feedback, such as using phonics in lesson plans. The school should also ensure our children in the middle school are prepared for high school mathematics.”
Safety is also an important issue for the group, especially as someone like Rad, who has worked as a bus driver, has more insight into what matters for pre-K busing.
“With regard to safety, this includes the school campus, as well as travel to school,” they said “As board members, we will work with parents, the administration and community members to ensure that what is best for the children of Readington is the primary factor.”
They said they feel the best way to keep good teachers is to ensure a good relationship between the teachers, parents and the board.
“A strong relationship between parents and teachers is essential for teacher success,” they said. “Readington parents are very committed to their children’s education and work closely with their children’s teachers, and the school should explore ways to further develop this partnership. Another area is ensuring the teachers have a voice in the decisions that affect their classroom, and their input should be welcomed by the administration and shared with the board. Teachers also need to be presented with growth opportunities to ensure the position stays interesting, whether it be career advancement, educational opportunities or leading initiatives of interest.”
When it comes to the district budget, the group sees several areas they can focus on.
“One is teacher retention, since hiring and replacing experienced teachers is costly in both budget and student learning,” they said. “Another area is ensuring that any proposed grant that is presented is reviewed in the lens of total costs, now and in the future, and what accepting the grant will commit the district to spend from its own budget. The district should ensure the capital fund is well-managed, and the facilities are maintained in a timely manner to prevent costlier expenses.”
The group said they feel that when it comes to the Readington School District, it is showing strong signs of returning to pre-COVID test scores because of its teachers and partnership with parents.
“Readington School District sets itself apart from other districts in its academic achievement, teacher excellence and strong parent and community support,” they said. “NJSLA scores were reported, and Readington outperforms districts throughout the state and Hunterdon County. The overall performance can be attributed to teacher excellence and strong parent and community support.”