Kerrie Joyce 
With back-to-school season at its peak, the arrival of newly elected School Board Members in November is only fitting. As part of the November 4th General Election, voters will decide on three new Board Members to be a part of the governing body of the Hoboken Public School District. There are two current Board Members seeking re-election and four first-time candidates, all of whom are running to claim the three available seats. Read on for more information about the function of the School Board and the candidates in Hoboken, NJ.
The Role of The School Board
The Hoboken Public Schools Board of Education is self-described as a policy-making body for the district. The Board’s primary task is the “Formulation and evaluation of all policies necessary for the operation of the school district. Your Board of Education is also the legislative branch of the school district.” The Board’s function as a legislative body includes holding public meetings with opportunities for residents to speak.
The first segment of public commentary pertains to that meeting’s agenda before it is voted on, and the second is afterwards to address any school district concerns that are unrelated to the agenda. The School Board is also legally responsible for “Acting upon administrative recommendations for appointing and dismissing personnel, adopting an annual budget, and formulating policies necessary to the smooth operation of the school district.”
Read More: Slates Set for Hoboken’s Upcoming Elections
According to the Hoboken Public School District’s website, the Board of Education consists of nine members, including a President and Vice President who are elected by their fellow members. Three Board Members are elected annually, each November, for terms lasting three years. Two current Board Members, Leslie Norwood and Antonio Graña, are seeking reelection as their terms are expiring. The third seat up for election this year currently belongs to Alex De La Torre, who is not seeking reelection.
Paralleling the election for Mayor and City Council, School Board elections are non-partisan. This means that candidates for the School Board will also run on slates, grouping themselves by common policy goals rather than a political party. Unlike City Council slates, which are usually named after the mayoral candidate running on them, School Board candidate slates are titled by campaign slogans.
Meet the Candidates
Per the Hudson County Clerk’s Office, the following candidates will appear on the General Election ballot.
Brighter Future Together
- Laura Block: As reported by the Hudson County View, Laura Block is listed as an extended team member by the Hoboken Public Education Foundation. According to Brighter Future Together’s Facebook Page, she is also a mother of two students enrolled in the Hoboken Public School District. She also has a background working in politics, editorial publications, and, most recently, the audiobook platform Audible.
- Tim Smith: Tim Smith is a Board Trustee of the Hoboken United soccer organization.
Trailblazers for Education
- Russ Koyfman: Russ Koyfman is an author, father, and app developer. He is the founder of the AI-driven app Tale Trail.
Leadership that Delivers
- Antonio Graña: Antonio Graña is an incumbent Board Member seeking re-election. He is a local parent who has been an officer on both the Connors Elementary School and Hoboken Middle School PTO. He additionally served as Commissioner on the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment. He also has a private sector background as a Program and Change Manager.
- Leslie Norwood: Leslie Norwood is also an incumbent candidate running for another term. She is a parent to children who attend Brandt Elementary School and Hoboken Middle School. She has participated in school groups, including Brandt Parent Consortium for Pre-K, Brandt PTO, and Hoboken Special Needs Parent Advisory Group. She also has a background as an attorney and lobbyist.
- Elizabeth “Lizy” Velez: Elizabeth Velez would be a first-time Board Member if elected, while she is running alongside two incumbents on the Leadership that Delivers slate. She is a parent of a child with special needs who now attends Hoboken Middle School. She is an active member of the Special Education Parents Advisory Group. She also has a background in commercial litigation.
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