Wyckoff October 24, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Township’s school board race features contest by John Koster This November, Wyckoff voters will be asked to elect two representatives to fill the pair of three-year seats available on the K-8 board of education. This race will be contested by an appointed incumbent, Christopher Della Pietra, and newcomers John Carolan, Kathy Bowers, and Robert Buono. Voters will also be asked to endorse Danielle Swenson, who will run unopposed for the one-year unexpired term on the board. Swenson, an attorney with a degree from Muhlenberg and a law degree from Seton Hall, had served on the board previously, but is not currently an incumbent. Buono owns a construction company and works for the Borough of Ramsey as an assistant superintendent of buildings. He is a special police officer with Midland Park, and a member of the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department. He and his wife have lived in Wyckoff for 10 years and they have three children. He cited his people skills and love of the township as important assets. Bowers served as president of the Wyckoff Education Association for six years. She has a degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree from City College of New York. She has two grown daughters and seven grandchildren. Her husband is a former Navy F-14 pilot now serving with a major airline. Bowers has served as director of Christian education for the Wyckoff Reformed Church, and worked in the Wyckoff schools to revamp the seventh grade courtyard at the Eisenthe state’s land use law to include child care centers because they are necessary in today’s world. He also pointed out that the statute contains no parking requirement, but the applicant is providing 36 spaces based on his client’s experience in operating many child care centers in the country. After three hours of testimony, questions, and discussion by the board, there were no public comments or questions. The application was carried to the Nov. 1 public meeting of the board, when the professional planner for The Learning Experience will testify about the plan’s impact on the borough’s master plan and zoning ordinance. hower School. She also helped organize a scholarship fund from which children of WEA members are awarded annual scholarships of $1,500. She said she has become an expert in negotiation as a teacher leader and believes this experience would be useful to the board. Carolan has lived in New Jersey all his life and moved to Wyckoff in 2008. His wife Diana is the co-president of the Economy Shop, and they have two children in the school system. Carolan has a degree from Rutgers and an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and is an executive in a pharmaceuticals company with 25 years of business experience. He cited his business experience as an asset in his candidacy. Della Pietra, a one-year appointee now seeking a three-year elected term, is an attorney licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey. He has a degree from Columbia College and a law degree from Fordham. He has lived in Wyckoff for seven years, and he and his wife Ann, who grew up in Wyckoff, have three children in the school system. He said he has a great appreciation for the Wyckoff education system. He also is active in the Wyckoff Day care (continued from page 3) vehicles at the site during drop off and pick up times, saying no backup is expected. Bruce Whitaker, the attorney for The Learning Experience, provided the zoning board with copies the state law that indicates that child care centers for which a state license is required must be considered a permitted use in all non-residential districts of a municipality. He emphasized that the definition of “inherently beneficial use” has been amended in state law and Education Foundation, which raises funds for enhanced education without further burden on the taxpayers, and in sports programs. Speaking at a candidates’ forum, all four candidates for the contested seats were asked how they would handle requests from the public. Bowers said she would listen to the request and pass it up the chain of command. Carolan said he would speak to the person, try to understand the issue, and act according to protocols. Buono said he would listen to the request, answer the questions if possible, and take the question to the entire board and to the administration. Della Pietra said his response would depend on the nature of the request and as to whether it should be decided by the superintendent or the board. All of the candidates said the school administration has the ultimate authority to run the schools on a day-to-day basis and that the superintendent and principals should not be superseded by individual board members, whose job is to function as a team at the top level of administration.