Patch is publishing information on candidates for the Board of Education in Manchester.
Patch Staff
MANCHESTER, NJ — Election Day 2023 is near, and Manchester Township voters will be going to the polls to cast their ballots for candidates at the local, county and state levels.
The three, three-year terms on the Manchester Township Board of Education are the only contested races in Manchester, and there are six candidates seeking the three seats. School board seats are volunteer positions and are supposed to be nonpartisan entities.
Patch sent a questionnaire to all of the candidates seeking their responses. Here are the replies from Gloria Adkinson.
Your Name: Gloria Adkinson
Age (as of Election Day): 74
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Campaign Website: Putting Kids First — Manchester Township
Family: I live in the Renaissance Senior Community, Manchester, with my husband Elton E. Adkinson (retired NJ state corrections officer). We have 4 children, Addie Moore, Manchester resident; Dana Adkinson, Toms River; Curtis Dix Jr., Maryland, and DaLeyna Adkinson, L.A. California. Our 3 grandchildren graduated from Manchester High, and we have 4 great-grandchildren, 1 attending Ridgeway Elementary. We are active in the Lakewood/Toms River/Ocean NAACP and serve as leaders in our church, Macedonia Baptist Church, formerly of Lakewood and now based in Lakehurst.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for. No.
Education: I graduated from Georgian Court University with a bachelor's degree in K-12 History.
Occupation: I worked in the Lakewood School District as a 7th grade Social Studies teacher for 33 years and retired in 2009. I served as a building representative and Senior Rep, LEA Negotiating Team, and NJEA Convention Delegate for more than 15 years.
Previous or current elected or appointed office: None
Why are you seeking elective office?
I am running because I am concerned about the continued respect and values of public education. I believe that all students and parents should be represented at the table. I'm looking to bring someone to the table who represents the melting pot of residents living in the community. I am an advocate for an all-around circle of participants who have input, are recognized, and rewarded. This includes the BOE, administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, students, families, community leaders, and taxpayers. We all have a vested interest in our educational system and should care about the success of our students. They are our future and the developmental skills the schools supply are critical to being prepared for the challenges they face beyond preschool-12. I believe that my running mates Laura Wingler and Timothy Poss and I are dedicated, vested, and will work to bring about solutions to continue and bring innovative ways to keep Manchester schools as a well-rounded, respectful, and thriving community system.
What do you see as the role of the Board of Education?
The role of the BOE is to provide the district with the best educational decisions to bring success for employees and all students. They must follow the rules, regulations, and laws established by both state and federal mandates. They are charged with understanding the impact of not only the school system but how it impacts the citizens who live in the community.
The Manchester Township Schools are predicted to see an increase in enrollment over the next 5 years. What steps do you think the district should take to prepare for that?
No answer provided.
What do you believe is the most important issue for students and families in the Manchester Township Schools?
The most important issue for students and families in the Manchester School System is safety. There seem to be several issues dealing with bullying and the feeling that nothing is being done. I would like to include mental health as an issue too. Everyone agrees the loss of time in the classroom due to Covid has added to this issue. I do not have data relevant to Manchester's problem but as a board member I would like to do research and investigate parent concerns.