Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-April 20, 2011 Issue

FLOW Area April 20, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Three vie for single seat on regional school board by Frank J. McMahon Three candidates from Wyckoff will be seeking election to the one open Wyckoff trustee position on the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education on April 27. The seat is available because the term of incumbent Wyckoff trustee Jeff Brown has decided not to seek reelection. Two Oakland incumbent members of the board are seeking reelection to the board unopposed. The three Wyckoff candidates are Isabelle Lanini, Kenneth A. Porro, and Sabaudin Skenderi. The Oakland incumbents are Jane Castor and Sadie Quinlan. Lanini has two children: a senior at Indian Hills High School and a freshman at Ramapo High School. “The landscape is changing for public education,” Lanini stated. “There is pressure from all sides to keep expenses low while raising achievement. My previous career in technology along with my leadership roles as a volunteer in the school system give me the perspective to be a productive member of the board of education and to serve the students in our community. “My goals for this district are simple: every student engaged in (his or her) learning and every teacher with the tools and support (he or she) needs to excel. We must continue to set high academic standards for students and we need to raise their expectations of what they can achieve. Passionate, highly effective teachers create an environment where this happens. “To reach these goals, the board of education must be even more proactive, forward-thinking, and innovative. I believe that my commitment to education, along with my skills and experience, would enable me to be an active, effective board member.” Porro has lived in Wyckoff for six years and he has two sons, one of whom attends Indian Hills High School and is enrolled in the International Business University Program, while the other attends the Eisenhower Middle School. “I am honored to be considered as your Wyckoff representative to the Ramapo Indian Hills School Board,” Porro stated. “I have tried to stay active in the community by volunteering my time to coaching Wyckoff recreation baseball, basketball, and soccer teams over the past five years. I have participated in the Wyckoff Team Up to Tidy Up and the YMCA Buddy Walk. I am a parishioner at Saint Elizabeth’s Church and a three-year district chairperson to the Boy Scouts of America, former Tamarack District and I am currently an elected trustee to the New Jersey Bar Association--Local Government Section. “I am running for the RIH Regional High School Board of Education because I know that I can make a difference. I recognize the need for fiscal responsibility in this tight economic time, along with the challenge to provide a strong educational system. Some tough decisions will have to be made going forward. I pledge to ask the tough questions and provide a reasonable, conservative vote.” Skenderi did not submit a statement for his election campaign, but this is his third run for election to the regional school board. He received a master’s of public administration degree in 2004 from Rutgers University and a certificate of advanced professional training in public administration from Rutgers University in 2003, a master’s in political science from Rutgers in 2002, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Montclair State University in 1999. Castor is seeking her second term on the board. She has lived in the Borough of Oakland since 1990 and she has two sons, one of whom is an Indian Hills High School graduate; the other is currently a senior at that school. Castor has served on the Policy Committee and Crisis Management Committee. She has served on and chaired the Education and Personnel committees, and served as liaison to the Indian Hills High School PTSO and as the board’s representative on the student administrative council. “It has been my privilege to represent Oakland on the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District Board of Education for the past three years,” Castor stated, “and I appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve as a trustee. “I have been involved in many community groups, i ncludi ng Oa k land Newcomers Club, the Manito (continued on page 19) Chocolate Making Birthday Parties Are Our Specialty Choose from our large selection of For r... gift items, eggs, and our own te freshly made, unique chocolate Eas bunnies and lollipops. Chocolate Etc... Hop on Over to create your very own gift basket! 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