Seven candidates for three seats on the Randolph Board of Education held a largely civil discussion on Thursday’s online forum hosted by the League of Women Voters in the Morristown Area about the issues that divide the district.
Candidates vying for seats vacated by three incumbents changed their minds on new sex education standards and other issues, but disagreed on the need for greater transparency between the board and the public. Most agreed.
“I am running for office because I believe our town cannot remain in its current state,” Debbie Rauch Rizal said in her opening statement. Board members are calling out the names of the guardians and addressing other board members as well.It helps me keep the temperature down.”
“Mutual respect must be restored,” said Todd Schleifstein. Hmm.”
Layne Broyles, Amanda Adams, Hazel Ball, Sheldon Epstein and Kelly Ann Erzberger complete the field for the Nov. 8 election.
The board caused a nationwide uproar with its decision to replace Columbus Day on school calendars with Indigenous Peoples Day in the spring of 2021. The move drew large crowds and protests at subsequent meetings from Italian-American groups and conservatives.
They later reversed that decision, but sparked more controversy in February by removing one of Rosh Hashana’s two-day holidays from the school calendar. The sexuality report was heavily criticized by some members of the public.
September, as did many districts following the implementation of new state-mandated health education standards that include elements of gender and sexuality that some critics label as “age-inappropriate.” Further controversy ensued.
Adams, who is running on the Ball and Epstein ticket, said as a new board member his priority is to work with board members. .”
Ball said he would work with the community and board to “understand all perspectives” and encourage a more diverse (employment) candidate pool.
Epstein, who served on the board from 2013 to 2019, attacked the unnamed candidates, warning them of their “false rhetoric” and accusing them of “creating a lot of problems they want to fix.”
The other four candidates are running on their own slates.
Broyles said it was important to open up opportunities for communication with the public in order to try to find a “happy medium for everyone.”
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Working with the remaining board members is a priority, Arzberger said, adding, “It’s about fixing and lowering the temperature of transparency and communication between the board and the community. There’s a lot going on between these groups. There is a discord of
Broyles and colleagues also emphasized the importance of coping with the two years of learning loss associated with COVID-19. We plan to address that. ”
Asked if she supported the new state health education standards, Broyles said she thought they were “age-appropriate” for younger students and hoped they would be implemented at the high school level. and others added that it was difficult to determine the content of the lessons because the school district made it difficult to review the material.
“We’re all in the news for the wrong reasons,” Rizal said. “Why? Mainly because the current board has cut off communication and access to information.
Epstein points out that the board does not create the standards, but rather “the states do,” and if they do not support the standards, they must risk students not meeting the requirements for promotion or graduation. He hopes to simplify the opt-out process and distribute materials early for parents to review.
Schleifstein agreed that the revised standard was unnecessary and a mandatory requirement, but blamed the board for implementing the standard, calling it an “unmitigated disaster.”
“When the curriculum was finally released literally days before the school year, it was at a very general level and I had absolutely no idea what was going on,” he said.
Lissaur endorsed “some” of the standards and suggested that “there are creative ways to meet them.” [state] We set standards, but we never suggest anything we disagree with. ”
Adams endorsed new health standards. This is because it was “created by experts” to prevent child abuse by teaching about the body. “I trust the experts within the district who create the curricula and the experts who are the teachers to actually implement them in the classroom,” she said.
Ball agreed with Adams, saying the criteria were based on safety statistics. She also added, “I believe it’s the responsibility of parents to educate their children,” and that there is an “opt-out for parents who don’t want to participate.”
Arzberger doesn’t support the new standards, saying, “It’s a noble initiative by the state, but I don’t think there are any long-term studies showing the impact of the curriculum being introduced this year. I don’t think they are age-old. Suitable for, let the children be children.”
Questions solicited included some referencing some of the vehement rhetoric surrounding the board and elections seen on the town’s social media. Are you blocking social media or refusing to communicate?”
Epstein said his ticket promised to open up two-way communication with the public, but four other candidates “didn’t live it through the campaign.”
Rizal replied, “I’m not really sure what Sheldon is talking about,” but he hasn’t blocked anyone on social media or turned off comments..”
Schleifstein also disputed Epstein’s accusations, saying his door was “always open” but “blocked people on social media who were involved in personal attacks against his wife and children. I make no apologies for that.”
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