Meet the Candidates: Mountainside BOE Conducts Interviews for Two New Board Members

The Board of Education met for a special meeting on Tuesday hoping to find an outstanding member of the community to fill one of two Board seats vacated suddenly by Marybeth Schaumberg and Carolyn Williams. BOE President James Ruban noted that “our goal is to have both folks in place by the next meeting which is October 18.”

Due to BOE regulations, the Board has to advertise the second vacated seat before it is filled.  If additional candidates come forward before the next meeting, those citizens will be interviewed on October 18.  The six candidates who are not chosen for the first seat in question still have a chance to be selected for the second vacated seat.

“The fact that we have seven candidates that are applying for this vacancy in a time where it seems like it must be such a difficult prospect to be on this Board is really heartwarming,” Vice President Christopher Minks stated. “It makes us feel very proud of this community.”

Ruban expressed several times throughout the meeting that he was shocked to see how many Mountainside residents were interested in filling the vacancies.  In fact, the Board had only planned on interviewing one or two hopefuls and had to schedule Tuesday night’s meeting due to the sheer size of the response.         

The seven candidates interviewed at Tuesday’s meeting were Kate Motz, Steve Matlin, Carlos Gomez, Jeane Parker, Troy Doll, Kate Diskin, and Mauro Wolfe, all of whom expressed a desire to “give back” to the community they felt had given their children a strong education. 

In the spirit of fairness, all candidates were allotted 20 minutes for the interview and asked the same questions, each delivered by a different Board member. During one interview, Mauro Wolfe asked the Board what they were looking for in a candidate. Several of the members of the Board expressed their opinions on this matter.

“This is a tough thing to do. A lot of people who have strong opinions are unable to express those opinions in public or simply lack the time or the inclination to do this,” Minks stated. “We are looking for like-minded people, not like-opinionated people. We want people who are collaborative; someone who is willing to disagree and back it up with some facts without communicating in a way that is destructive, disagreeable or divisive.”

BOE member Cathy Jakositz noted that she values “thinking outside the box” as a quality she looks for in a BOE candidate.  All Board members expressed that the communication between current Board members is cohesive in thought and strategy.

“I have very strong opinions,” Dante Gioia stated. “There have been times when I have entered a meeting totally convinced on an issue and have actually changed my opinion because on this Board, we make a point of listening and digesting everything someone has to say before making a decision together.”

The first candidate to be interviewed by the Board was Kate Motz. Motz, who has a background working in finance and is now a local business owner, is the mother to three children; one in kindergarten, one in first grade, and a three-year-old.  

“I have served on the Board for several local nonprofits, including women’s shelters and a chapter of the United Way organization so I know the rules and how to follow them,” Motz stated. “I don’t have an agenda. I am here to be a resource and to help with whatever comes your way.”

Motz noted that she thought the Board was doing an exceptional job but if elected, would want to improve communication between the Board and parents to increase parental involvement. Motz went on to state that “I have a lot of energy and I am very connected locally. I am good at organizing a group and getting people together to do great things; I know that a Board needs people who are team players.”

Motz expressed that she “comes from a place in California where the school system is horrible.  My husband and I made the decision not to send our children to private school because we were so impressed with this school district. I’m here because I want our school system to be better just like everyone else does.”

Steve Matlin, a recently retired lawyer with two daughters in grades seven and nine, saw this as a “good opportunity to contribute to the community and help the school system” noting that he has “always been interested in education.”

Matlin made a point of expressing to the Board that he felt that the Board could be doing more to ensure that Mountainside students were challenged by a rigorous education.

 “My girls weren’t challenged enough. My friends’ children attend schools outside of Mountainside and seem to have a better understanding of politics and what’s going on in the world,” Matlin stated.

The Board noted that Mountainside schools seem to lack a “humanities push.”

BOE member Carmine Venes asked each candidate how they felt such a small district with a tough financial outlook could save money without sacrificing a high standard of education.

Matlin expressed his concern regarding the district’s decision to enact a “pay to play” fee for sports, stating that his younger daughter participates in the athletic programs conducted by the school and that he has “seen sports programs suffer” as a result of this program.  Matlin suggested using a Boosters program similar to the one used to fund sports at Governor Livingston while stating that he supported the Board’s decision to utilize subscription busing.

Matlin noted that his training as a transactional lawyer would certainly allow him to be an asset to the Board as they plan the budget. “I have wanted to do this for awhile, and now I finally have the time and the energy. As the parent of a daughter at GL, I am very interested in the relationship between Mountainside and Berkeley Heights. My kids have gotten a very good education here, but I’m interested to see if our children can be pushed a little bit harder,” he said.

As an EMT for the Elizabeth Fire Department and a Union Representative who helps public servants with labor issues, Carlos Gomez expressed that he has dedicated his life to helping others, and presented himself as a candidate hoping that he could do the same for the children and parents of Mountainside.     

Gomez went on to explain that in his free time, he serves as a volunteer coach for Mountainside youth baseball and recreational basketball. Gomez also volunteers for the Mountainside rescue squad and his wife is a member of the PTA. Gomez also expressed that if appointed to the Board, he could use his expertise in labor relations to assist the Board with staff communication as a member of the Personnel Committee.

The Board expressed to Gomez that if chosen, he would have to run for election in April to keep his position.

“I always wanted to get involved. I thought that this would be a good opportunity to show how I could be of assistance and give back to the community,” Gomez stated.

For Jeane Parker, this was not her first experience fighting for a seat on the BOE. In fact, Parker ran unsuccessfully for the Board of Education in the spring. However, this had not swayed Parker’s passion for educational change.

“I am not afraid to ask questions. I believe that we need to improve communication between seniors and residents without children and the Board so that these people know where their tax dollars are going. I also think that regardless of who you elect, it is important that someone at this table has a connection to Governor Livingston.”  

Parker stated that she would work well with the Negotiations Committee because as a journalist she is “accustomed to listening to a lot of different sides.”  Parker also expressed that she is an “independent thinker” and if she thinks something is wrong or has questions, she won’t follow blindly; she will ask questions until she is comfortable making a decision.

“I have watched everything that has transpired on this Board, and I still have a desire to do this,” Parker stated. If chosen for this seat, she notes that she will run in April. “I feel that I would have an obligation to run… this Board has to have some consistency,” Parker stated.

Troy Doll noted that his children, ages six and nine, are “receiving a great education. I wanted take this opportunity to give back to our schools.” Doll stated that as a lawyer, he excels at “solving problems while keeping the peace” during negotiations, noting that he would like to serve as the GL liaison to aid with negotiations between Berkeley Heights and Mountainside.

When asked by Venes about how Mountainside could succeed financially while maintaining excellent educational standards, Doll stated that he would investigate how the Board could “work with the Town Council to find additional revenue without the burden falling on the homeowners. Doll cited his eagerness to “overcome challenges” as one of his strongest attributes.

Mauro Wolfe voiced that he felt “a moral obligation to offer his skills and services” to the BOE. When asked if he would run to protect his seat on the Board in April if chosen for this position, Wolfe took a moment to explain the depth of his commitment to the Board.

“I grew up in a military family. We moved every two years. When my wife and I decided to move to Mountainside, I was working as the Assistant U.S. Attorney. I wanted my daughter to have what I didn’t growing up; a belief in and a tie to her community. Coming here tonight represents an epiphany for me about what it means to be part of a community. I’m ready to serve,” Wolfe conveyed.    

Kate Diskin brought a wealth of credibility and educational experience to the table. Diskin is a mother to two children in Mountainside schools and works as an elementary school principal in Middlesex Borough. With 20 years of experience in the field of education, Diskin feels she understands how to successfully communicate with a BOE to help solve her district’s problems.

“I’m a parent, I’m a tax payer, and I work in the public school system. I understand the fiscal responsibilities of a school district. I have an open and positive relationship with the Middlesex Borough BOE, as well as our teachers and staff,” Diskin said.

Throughout the interview, Diskin emphasized her ability to “work cooperatively and collaboratively with the Board,” noting the importance of agreeing on a set of goals that the Board could execute together with the help of Dr. Lubarsky.

In closing, Diskin expressed her final thoughts on her candidacy and what she could offer to the Board. “I feel as though I would be an asset to the community,” Diskin expressed. “School Boards are result driven groups who have healthy discussions while working together towards a common goal. Regardless of what happens I will be happy to help wherever I can. I have already joined a strategic planning committee in Berkeley Heights and I am committed to bringing new technology in our schools,” she stated.