Four candidates will vie for three seats on the Ocean City Board of Education in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The following candidates will be on the ballot:
- Dale F. Braun Jr. (see profile)
- Joseph S. Clark Jr. (see below)
- Cecelia Gallelli-Keyes (see profile)
- Michael Allan James (see profile)
Clark and Gallelli-Keyes are incumbents. The other vacant seat is currently held by Tiffany Prettyman, who will not run in the election.
The school board includes nine members from Ocean City, who are elected to three-year terms in staggered years, and three members from Upper Township, who are appointed to one-year terms.
Traditionally held in the spring, school elections moved to November in Ocean City in 2012. The ballot will include Congressional and Cape May County candidates, as well as school board candidates.
The following is a candidate profile for Joseph S. Clark Jr. Profiles for other candidates are running on consecutive days this week in alphabetical order. The candidates were asked to complete biographical and brief platform information in their own words.
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Name: Joseph S. Clark Jr.
Age: 57
Education: West Chester University, BA in public administration, 1981. Additional certifications for current job with the City of Ocean City.
No. of years lived in Ocean City: 33 full-time
Family in school system: Three children attended Ocean City schools K-12: Andrew, 27, Randall, 25, and Shelby, 23
Occupation: Purchasing manager for the City of Ocean City
Public service: Current president of the Ocean City Board of Education. Two terms of three years on the board. Has also led the board’s Negotiations Committee and served on the board’s Finance Committee and Buildings and Grounds Committee. Former member of the Ocean City School District Strategic Planning Committee. Member of the Ocean City Education Foundation. Former member of the Ocean City High School Crew Team Advisory Committee and chairman of the booster club for boys’ crew. Former member of the Ocean City Historical Museum Board of Trustees. Former member of the Ocean City Clean Communities Advisory Board. Current Chairman of the Ocean City Shade Tree Committee (serving on committee since 2002). Member of the Shore Medical Center Stainton Society board. Former scoutmaster with Boys Scout Troop 32.
Three issues you think are most important:
- Making up for loss of state aid revenue: Ocean City lost about $3 million in state aid shortly before the district became one of the pilot schools for the new School Choice program, which has almost closed the gap. You can’t (otherwise) make that up within the confines of a 2 percent cap.
- School Choice: How is it going to be maintained? Ocean City currently has 194 School Choice students, who bring about $2.7 million in state tuition to the district. Is the state going to be able to continue to fund this and what alternatives do we have? It’s important to explore different scenarios.
- Trying to maintain the excellent school district we have with the same programs: We’ve been thinking outside the box. We were among the first districts to have School Choice, and for us, it’s been a real godsend. We’ve been making upgrades to the school to create a better learning environment. It’s a well-run district. We’re lucky we come from a city that has adequate funding for all the things that make school part of a total experience for the students.
What you would like voters to know about you and your vision for the board:
I know what it takes to do the job. I’m committed to do the job. And I recognize the value the district brings to the community as a whole. I’m an advocate for the taxpayer. I’m aware that I’m voting on their behalf. I bring 30 years of experience to the table. I’ve been part of negotiating better contracts for the taxpayer and for the staff. I love the community, and we have great support from the community.
