School Board Candidates Talk Issues

By MADDY VITALE There are 11 Ocean City Board of Education candidates running in the Nov. 2 election. They are vying for three, three-year seats. Following is a list of questions asked of the candidates by OCNJDaily.com. The candidates are being profiled in a series of articles focusing on school district issues. Catherine Panico, Jacqueline McAlister and Chris Halliday were profiled earlier. Dale Braun, Suzanne Morgan and Robin Shaffer are profiled in this story. Dale Braun, at left, during a school bake sale. (Photo courtesy of Dale Braun) Dale Braun How long have you lived in Ocean City? 12 years What is your occupation? Affiliated Organizations? I am a retired senior vice president and controller in banking. Affiliated organizations include, recording secretary of the Ocean City Parent Teacher Association, treasurer of the high school’s parent teacher organization, After Prom volunteer, Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, religious education teacher for St. Damien and St. Joseph Parishes, Shore Medical Center volunteer and Ocean City Planning Board as well as Ocean City Lifeguard Pension board. Do you have children in the district or were they in the district? Victoria graduated in 2013 and Emily is currently in her junior year. Why are you running for School Board? I love this city of ours and have never regretted moving here. At the heart of “America’s Greatest Family Resort” is our pre-K to 12 school district. Providing our children the best education and reinforcing our community’s values is the ultimate investment in both their and our future. What do you hope to do if elected and what do you think is working/not working currently on the board? I would like to see all of our students achieve more academic success. My definition of academic success not only encompasses improved standardized test scores but also support and motivate our children to achieve their best potential in a positive learning environment. I would also like us to continue improving the educational experience of our students with newer and expanded innovations in all areas of education for all our grades. We must also keep a good collaborative relationship with the city and school, business and community groups, as these are crucial partnerships in giving or children the best educational experience. What would you like to change/achieve, new programs, different way of handling the COVID pandemic? We have an obligation to educate our students in the healthiest learning environment reasonably possible. Currently, we must, per the governor’s executive order, require all persons in our buildings to wear a mask. I believe that once a vaccine is available to everyone in our schools, the local school board should be allowed to make the decision on policy going forward on how best to proceed and how far to go in preventative measures based upon local vaccination and infection rates and student and staff outbreaks. Have you held office before or do you have anything else in your background that you believe lends itself to being a board member? Do you work or have you worked in the education field?  I previously served one term on the school board and chaired the Buildings and Grounds Committee. During that time, I earned and was awarded certified school board member by the New Jersey School Boards Association. This involved a significant number of additional hours of training as well as participation in certain state and county activities. I believe I can “hit the ground running” at a crucial time for our district, including the selection of our new superintendent. Suzanne Morgan (Photo courtesy of Suzanne Morgan) Suzanne Morgan How long have you lived in Ocean City? My parents always had a shore house, so I spent weekends and summers in Ocean City. I moved to Ocean City in 2009 after my divorce, because I wanted a small close-knit community with incredible schools. What is your occupation? I have been in the pharmaceutical industry for 21 years as a territory manager. I enjoy interacting with the physicians on a clinical level. I have also held positions in the marketing and managed care divisions of pharmaceutical manufacturers. Do you have children in the district or were they in the district? I have three daughters ages 22, 21, and 18. All three graduated from Ocean City High School. My oldest is in graduate school at Rowan University. My middle daughter is a senior at Lehigh University and my youngest is a freshman at Northeastern University and currently completing her first semester in Ireland. They are thriving from the solid foundation afforded to them from the Ocean City School District. What do you hope to do if elected and what do you think is working/not working currently on the board? As I am seeking re-election for my position on the school board, I would like to see a few upgrades. First and foremost, we need to collectively hire a superintendent. One who will inspire, bring innovation, and listen to the community’s needs and desires. I look for a transparent respectful mutual relationship among other board members. In order for our district to be successful we need to work together and consider and evaluate the needs and wants of our community. What would you like to change/achieve, new programs, different way of handling the COVID pandemic? I think it is important to remind everyone that a school board’s function is to provide guidance for personnel, fiscal responsibilities, buildings and grounds, and community outreach. It is the administration’s responsibility to run the day to day of the school. We, as a board, have to follow all state mandates whether we agree with them or not. This doesn’t mean we can’t engage in discussions or through letters with state officials to share our view. This is something I’d like to see happen in the future. I’d also like to see the board facilitate a more open dialogue at meetings. It is imperative that we continue to build trustworthiness among the board and community. Do you have anything in your background that lends itself to being a board member? Have you served before? Do you work or have you worked in the education field? I’d first like to share why I volunteer my time as a board member. I am the same parent, friend, taxpayer, and neighbor as anyone else. I am an ordinary citizen who cares about the students in our school district. Many people have asked me if I was going to run again since my daughters graduated. I choose to run for the school board because I want to ensure the best interests of our community are being seen and heard. I am representing the community’s beliefs and opinions. While I might not have an education background, I have learned so much since joining the board over four years ago. I was proactive in asking questions other board members and embraced the learning activities beyond what is required. Ocean City is a unique community where we care for everyone whether they are a stranger or friend. It is important we keep that close-knit feeling. At the end of the day, I live every day with a solid moral/ethical compass and this includes doing what is best for our school district and our children. Robin Shaffer teaching. (Photo courtesy of Robin Shaffer) Robin Shaffer How long have you lived in Ocean City? I'm a third generation Ocean City resident if you include the summers my great grandparents spent here in the 1930s and '40s. I bought my current home in north Ocean City right before Hurricane Sandy. What is your occupation? I am a retired school teacher and administrator with over 28 years’ experience in the field of education. I have also served overseas as a diplomat, working on building the capacity of host nation law enforcement and border security elements to further US foreign policy objectives in Central Asia. Currently, I volunteer in the community as well as for the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools on public and private school accreditation matters. Do you have children in the district or were they in the district? I have two sons. Both have attended Ocean City School District public schools. I currently have one son at Ocean City High School. Why are you running for School Board? I love the field of education and have dedicated my adult life to serving communities of children, parents and educators. I hold a master’s degree in education from Hood College and extensive experience in the field of education for 28 years and counting, as a teacher, Special Education administrator, vice principal, principal, and graduate professor for Towson University and the College of Notre Dame. I believe my extensive, wide ranging experience in the field of education as well as federal, state and local leadership will provide me a good foundation for serving this community as a board member. What do you hope to do if elected and what do you think is working/not working currently on the board? Our board needs leaders who exercise their responsibility for oversight over the Ocean City School District, who listen to community stakeholders and are willing to stand up to Trenton to assert local control over local matters. And we need a Board of Education that reflects the values of our community. If elected, I intend to ask the tough questions that need asking. I will respond to all constituent concerns in a timely fashion and I will look for every opportunity for improving the working environment for our teachers, as well as improving the academic as well as the social and emotional welfare of our children, and I will strive to increase access and transparency for our parent community. What would you like to change/achieve, new programs, different way of handling the COVID pandemic? If elected, I would do three things: First, I would ask for the release of the results of the community mask survey that was conducted in September and if stakeholder sentiment was against mask mandates in our schools, I would push to have our board formally request the governor end executive order 251. Second, I would seek to have the board review student performance data to ensure that none of our students suffer long term damage from the pandemic, or are less competitive with peers on a national basis. Third, I would look at our wellness center initiative and seek a community partner with expertise in the area of mental health and wellness. Have you held office before or do you have anything else in your background that you believe lends itself to being a board member? Do you work or have you worked in the education field? I was twice elected president of the Maryland Special Education Advisory Board which advised the state Board of Education and state Superintendent of Schools on Special Education matters.  Following a career as a teacher and school administrator, I continued my service as a Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation specialist and chairperson. In 2014, I held a position as director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the US Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan. In that top secret cleared role, I oversaw a $2 million annual budget that worked to further US foreign policy objectives. I returned to Washington in 2017 and worked in counterterrorism for the state Department and Department of Defense. I had a great deal of responsibility entrusted in me in these positions. But I can think of no greater responsibility than ensuring our children get the best possible education here in Ocean City. Meet the candidates at a public Q&A session on Tuesday, Oct. 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ocean City Free Public Library’s Chris Maloney Lecture Hall (1735 Simpson Avenue). The forum will be moderated by radio personality Maryann McElroy. Candidates will have an opportunity to share their platform and answer vetted questions from the community. Community members may submit questions to [email protected]. All questions should be received no later than Sunday. Here is the full list of candidates: James Bauer, incumbent Dale F. Braun Jr. Chris Halliday Ryan Leonard Jacqueline McAlister, incumbent Suzanne Morgan, incumbent Catherine Panico Robin Shaffer Conor Fleming Liz Nicoletti Henry Disston Vanderslice