Scotch Plains School Board Election 2022: John Greenblatt

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD, NJ — The Scotch Plains-Fanwood School Board election is coming up on Nov. 8, and five candidates are running for three seats on the board.

Two seats are open on the Scotch Plains board, and one seat is open on the Fanwood board for the election this November.

Incumbents Nancy Bauer and Stephanie Suriani are both running for re-election to maintain their current seats on the board. Resident John Greenblatt has also filed to run for the Scotch Plains board.

On Fanwood's board, current member Amy Winkler is running for re-election against newcomer Gary Morris.

Patch asked all the candidates a series of questions ahead of the November election. (All of the candidates were given the same questions).

Here are candidate Greenblatt's answers below:

John Greenblatt

Campaign website:

https://www.facebook.com/John-Greenblatt-for-Board-of-Ed-100164842851978

What office are you seeking?

Scotch Plains Board of Education

Educational Background?

MBA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior from Baruch. BA in Sociology from Albany University. Profession in Human Resources (PHR) designation and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) designation.

Occupation?

I am a Business Owner of Five Star Resume, a Career Development and Coaching company. I also have prior experience working as an HR Business Partner, Executive Recruiter and Senior Learning and Development Manager for a Global IT Consulting company.

Do you have a family? Tell us about them.

I have a wife and 2 daughters aged 7 and 3. My wife is hard working, kind and intelligent. She is a Director at a Pharmaceutical company. My 7yr old is full of energy and loves everything creative. She is currently a second grader at Evergreen Elementary. My 3 year old attends the Christian Day School by park avenue and she is very sweet and independent.

Why did you decide to run for the Board of Ed this year?

I moved to Scotch Plains for several reasons, one of which being the school system. Thus far my experience with the school has been mostly positive, but just like any business or institution there is always room for improvement. I believe with my background in consulting and as a business owner, I can help streamline processes, build effective communications and provide greater transparency into the happenings in the district. I also believe that we should renew our focus on performance and make sure that we do not lose any more ground in the state rankings.

Have you previously run for Board of Ed or served on the board before?

I have not, but my consulting background helps me learn new operations and businesses quickly to identify areas of opportunity.

What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected to serve on the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education?

My main goal will be to improve transparency and trust between the community and the district. I would like to focus on strengthening communications so that parents are aware of all that takes place and feel that they have a strong voice in their child’s education. Our parents and students are our “clients” and they should feel that they are important stakeholders in the decision making process. This relates to operations, curriculum, budget etc.

What do you think is the most pressing issue for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District?

Renew our focus on the fundamentals of education and provide our students with the tools that enable them to succeed now and in the future. Our rankings in the state and as a system worldwide have been on the decline and we need to make sure we are doing what needs to be done to rectify this. If we deliver on this, it will enable kids of all status and backgrounds to flourish. I do also want to be more transparent in many areas, sharing both the positives and the challenges that we face as a district.

What will you do to ensure that students feel safe at school?

We need to address any issues that arise head on. We need to be open with the community about any issues that come up and address them as a community. I believe we let data and information lead our development of a solution. It is important that we focus our limited resources on problems that do exist in the district.

What is your stance on the new sex education curriculum that has been introduced by the state?

It is a very comprehensive document and addresses many areas. I do believe that parents are the primary owners of sex and social education. Like any issue, I agree with some concepts and do not agree with others. I do agree that kids should learn human anatomy and biology in an age appropriate manner and structured forum. It is the more abstract social constructs that I believe should be left to parents, mainly because they are shaped by worldview and not factual accuracy.

What is something new that you will bring to the Board in the coming year?

A way of looking at issues through a different lens. By bringing my consulting and business ownership background to the table, I believe I can effectively engage our community and teachers to develop programs/processes that work for everyone. I also want to create a level of accessibility that makes our community feel heard.

Anything else voters should know about you?

I value the importance of communication and taking the time to understand diverse perspectives on any issue. I consider myself receptive to ideas and someone that likes to think through an issue to come up with a solution.