Montclair Board of Education candidates’ views, priorities and self-ratings
The Montclair PTA Council has collected responses to questions about Montclair Board of Education candidate’s plans and positions. Each of the nine individuals running for two open seats on the board in a special election this March has replied, and their answers are now posted at the PTA Council’s site, at montclairpta.org/candidatesboe.
Among the topics explored: Candidates were asked to describe their candidacy and reasons for running, to rate certain skills and levels of experience, to discuss their community affiliations and to set priorities for the board.
In addition, the League of Women Voters of the Montclair Area has invited the candidates to participate in a forum on Thursday, Feb. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. The forum will be broadcast live on Channel 34, YouTube, and Radio Free Montclair.
Questions to the candidates may be submitted when registration is confirmed. A registration link is on the homepage of lwvmontclairarea.org.
Running are Yvonne Bouknight, Jerold Frier, Holly Shaw, Melanie Deysher, Noah Gale, George C. Simpson, Phaedra Dunn, Jennette Williams and Lauren Q. Griffin.
Williams has recently served as the education chair for the League. The organization said she has temporarily stepped down from her committee chair role, and will do so permanently if elected. The League said it does not endorse any candidate.
There are two seats up for election in March, created when voters opted to convert Montclair from a Type I school district (with a mayor-appointed board of seven members) to a Type II district (with an elected board of nine).
