1. What specific academic subject or technology would you most like to see changed or implemented in our schools?

a) The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District in consistently ranked among the best school districts in the State of New Jersey. We are currently ranked the 28th best school district in New Jersey and #2 in Morris County (according to niche.com). We need to continue to encourage and challenge all students to achieve to their potential. We favor increasing our Advanced Placement course offerings while focusing on the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. We believe that the District should continue its already strong performance in preparing graduates for college or career.

b) Our schools have done an excellent job in implementing technology in the classroom and preparing today’s children for the economy of tomorrow. As technology rapidly changes, we should look into new programs for teachers, parents, and students that help break the walls between the classroom and the home, and leverage our technology to increase transparency. We should also seek to fine-tune technology currently in-use to increase productivity and keep kids on task with programs such as GoGuardian.

2. Rank the stakeholders who you feel the Board of Education should be concerned with in order from highest priority (1 is highest priority)- taxpayers, students, teachers, the community at large.

a) Students are the District’s #1 priority. We are responsible for the student’s health, safety and development while they are in our charge, and even after they leave us and go home. From the District’s Mission Statement: “The mission of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District, in partnership with families and the greater community, is to challenge and nurture all students academically and to develop confident learners who are compassionate, generous, appreciative, and invested in their diverse world. This will be accomplished through innovative opportunities that inspire life-long learning, critical thinking and problem solving, creative exploration, and the democratic collaboration among students and staff.” We believe in this mission and act to support it.

The District’s other stakeholders are also extremely important. We take into account how the actions of the Board of Education impact all residents, whether they be property owners or renters, residents with children in school or seniors, faculty and staff. We do not believe in ranking one stakeholder over another.

b) The Board’s number 1 priority and mission is to provide the best education possible to our students. Teachers are an integral part of that mission. Our taxpayers also play an important role, as they’re the ones who ultimately foot the bill, and we must ensure that we are good stewards with the money entrusted in us while at the same time allowing students and teachers to perform efficiently and effectively. The community at large also plays a big role, as they encourage and promote student achievement through events such as Redstock and co-curricular activities. All of these groups form together to continue to make Parsippany “the place to be”

3. What about your background makes you feel uniquely qualified to serve on Parsippany’s Board of Education?

a) For Robert Quinn: “As a graduate of Parsippany High School, I believe that my perspective as a recent graduate will add to and strengthen the perspective of the Board of Education to make the best decisions possible. I want to ensure our students receive the best education possible in a fiscally prudent way.”

b) For Andy Choffo: “I believe that my background in business and 12 years of service as a Parsippany Board Member combine to allow me to ensure that the district is well-run.”

4. What cost efficiency might you propose to curb rising taxes?

a) We believe that the District is extremely well-run financially. We will continue to ensure that the District is offering a competitive, yet cost-effective compensation package to all staff; that our costs to maintain buildings and grounds are spent prudently; and that we always keep in mind that we are spending tax-payer dollars when approving expenditures.

b) During this campaign, Andy and I have spoken to many residents and heard their concerns, and the number 1 issue for residents has been the crushing taxes that many feel are pushing them out of a town and state they have called home for so long. The Board must work with our state legislators to ensure that Parsippany schools receive proper funding. I hope to use the relationships I have forged with elected officials at all levels of government to make this a reality.

5. As previously posted on Parsippany Focus, a petition has been circulating through town and nearly 1,000 people have signed asking for increased busing.  How would you respond to residents?

a) We have spoken to many of the residents that are passionate about expanding the transportation that is provided by the District to include neighborhoods outside of the state-mandated limits. We will continue to listen to their ideas, and where possible, include them in the process to find a workable solution. The Board’s Transportation Committee is currently reviewing options, working with the Parsippany Police Department and will provide their findings in the near future. We pledge to make this a priority for the Board to resolve.

b) Over the past several months, Andy and I have listened to their concerns and have explored possible solutions with them. We must do our best to mitigate potential hazards before it is too late. We are committed to working with parents, hearing their concerns, and get them a seat at the table.

6. Do you think Parsippany has done enough to address school safety? If not, what specific improvements would you propose?

a) On October 17, 2019, Director of Security and Parsippany Police Department Captain Jay Wieners, stated, “Parsippany’s schools are no longer soft targets.” We agree with Captain Wieners. The District has invested heavily in school security. Processes and procedures have been revised. Security experts have been engaged. Students and parents are being informed. Buildings continue to be “hardened.” We believe that student and staff safety is the #1 priority of the District and will work towards further improvements.

b) While the Board and our amazing police officers have done an excellent job at improving safety, there is always more that can be done. A school can never be too safe. We can expand the use of Class III officers and other means to provide a safer environment in a cost-efficient way. The Morris County Sheriff’s office has done great work in attempting to identify threats before they can occur, and I would love to collaborate with Sheriff Gannon and the Parsippany Police Department to start a “see something, say something” campaign within the classroom. School safety is more than just providing a secure and loving learning environment; we want our children to be safe from the time they leave their home in the morning to head to school, to the moment they walk in the door. After speaking with numerous residents about the bussing problems, it is clear we must analyze and assess the problem and react accordingly.

7. What do you think is best about the Parsippany school system and what do you think could use the most improvement?

a) We believe that the strength of the District is its people. We have dedicated administrators, faculty and staff that care deeply about our students. Education is a “people business”, and Parsippany has some of the best people in public education right here in our town.

b) The greatest thing about our town is that we are a large community made up of so many different races, religions, and cultures. Our schools bring all those communities under one roof, cementing Parsippany as a melting pot of different cultures. While the district is one of the best in Morris County, there is always room for improvement. We should look to optimize existing procedures, such as pick up and drop off, to make our schools safer and more efficiently run.

8. What non-academic capability do you think is most important for today’s students to learn in preparation for the future, and what is the best way Parsippany can assist them in learning this?

a) The world can be a tough place. We want our graduates to be successful in whatever dream they decide to pursue. To that end we must provide opportunities in the curricula for kindness and conscience; civics and civility; equality and competition; morality; motivation; self-reliance; hard-work and; interpersonal and communication skills.

b) In a society where smart phones and social media rule our lives, it is imperative that we prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s workforce. We should look into implementing public speaking classes and expand on other courses that improve the social skills of the students. In addition, we should also explore possibly adding to our language program and continue to build bridges between the different cultures and communities throughout the township.

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1. What specific academic subject or technology would you most like to see changed or implemented in our schools?

The Board of Education (BOE) is currently working with a Strategic Plan and there are several initiatives within those goals that I am excited to support. The District is researching the possibility of adding an additional world language, and also exploring additional 1:1 technology outside of the high school level.

2. Rank the stakeholders who you feel the Board of Education should be concerned with in order from highest priority (1 is highest priority)  taxpayers, students, teachers, the community at large.

1 – Students 2 – Teachers 3 – Taxpayers 4 – Community at large

3. What about your background makes you feel uniquely qualified to serve on Parsippany’s Board of Education? 

I am a parent of five teenagers who are attending or have attended Parsippany schools.  I am also a CPA in public practice, and a former child daycare owner/director.  I have been on the Parsippany BOE for the past six years, and have attained “Master Board Member” certification, which is a reflection on attendance at board member trainings and workshops. I have consistently used my knowledge as a parent, accountant and former preschool educator to contribute to the Board as a whole. All members of the BOE need to work together to ensure that the District is well run. The value of one member of the BOE is what they can bring to the entire board.

4. What cost efficiency might you propose to curb rising taxes? 

As a member of the BOE’s Finance committee, I understand the need to reduce spending, because there is no additional revenue source. The finance committee and the district administration are always looking for cost savings. There are services out to bid now in the hopes of getting lower cost contracts. Reducing health-care costs is always a priority, and is an issue that is not unique to Parsippany. If re-elected, I will continue to work with my fellow BOE members and Administration on reducing the health care costs to both staff and the District.

5. As previously posted on Parsippany Focus, a petition has been circulating through town and nearly 1,000 people have signed asking for increased busing.  How would you respond to residents? 

I am a member of the BOE’s Transportation committee, which has been asked to look into possible solutions to busing issues raised by residents. The committee is looking into several alternatives and the District has been in contact with the Parsippany Police department regarding this issue. Additional information will be shared through the Transportation committee as part of the Board meeting minutes and notes which can be found on the District website.  While I understand that additional busing might solve some of the issues raised, that is an additional cost that is not built into the budget, and implementing it would impact our goals to find cost efficiencies and curb rising taxes. I look forward to continuing to work with all parties to find solutions that will meet the needs presented without unnecessarily raising taxes.

6. Do you think Parsippany has done enough to address school safety? If not, what specific improvements would you propose?  

Parsippany is fortunate to have a fully-operational and positive shared-services arrangement between the Township Police Department and the school district.  At the most recent BOE meeting, the Director of Security presented a report updating the Board on school safety in our Township.  While there is always more that can be done, I believe Parsippany has a solid safety plan.  We have well-qualified and caring security staff that are constantly working to improve the safety and security of our students and staff.

7. What do you think is best about the Parsippany school system and what do you think could use the most improvement? 

The variety of academic and non-academic programs and opportunities are a strength of the Parsippany school district.  Throughout the district, from elementary school through high school, there are opportunities for academics on any level, and extra-curricular activities in many different areas, including sports, STEM, the arts and service clubs. One area for improvement is social-emotional well-being, which is a district strategic goal. New Jersey School Boards Association just published a report on addressing Mental Health in school districts.  I attended a workshop on this topic recently, and will discuss the report with the BOE and Parsippany District Administration to find what the District can implement that might be appropriate for our students and staff.

8. What non-academic capability do you think is most important for today’s students to learn in preparation for the future, and what is the best way Parsippany can assist them in learning this?

Instilling a love of learning will be very important for today’s students. The jobs of the future will look very different than the jobs of today, and students will need to be flexible and open to learning new skills. Parsippany can assist them by ensuring that every student finds education enjoyable and learns to identify their strengths.

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1. What specific academic subject or technology would you most like to see changed or implemented in our schools?

I would like to see more coding opportunities at the elementary level. This is the key age for children to begin learning this ever-growing subject, and one that is important to future careers. We have started teaching our son, who’s in First grade, coding at home through an online tool that turns it into a game, and he’s enjoying it a lot.

Coding skills overlap and reinforce skills in all other subjects and may be as essential as reading in future careers.

2. Rank the stakeholders who you feel the Board of Education should be concerned with in order from highest priority (1 is highest priority)- taxpayers, students, teachers, the community at large.

I feel it is unfair to rank these key stakeholders in our school district. We need to balance our focus on all these audiences. Working to maintain and improve educational standards makes Parsippany an attractive place to live, increasing demand for and value of our residences, both homes and rentals.

3. What about your background makes you feel uniquely qualified to serve on Parsippany’s Board of Education?

In my career as a Business Analyst for the past 15 years, I help companies implement database solutions and improve business processes. A big part of my job is finding the optimal solution to my client’s problems, and that’s what keeps me passionate about my job. I love solving puzzles, and that’s how I equate the work that I do. I visualize their problem and think about various ways to solve them, then work with a team to come up with the best solution and implement it.

This experience makes me an excellent candidate for the Board of Education. Being one of nine members of the board, I would collaborate with my colleagues to look at each issue that came to us, analyze them for urgency, severity, and work towards the best solution while considering costs, effort, and other key factors. I will also bring new ideas and insights to the group. And when confronted with the answer “because that’s how it’s always been done”, I will push back and not just accept the status quo. I hear this phrase all the time in my line of business, and I challenge it every time, because it’s not enough to simply do what we’ve always done…it may be time for a change, big or small.

4. What cost efficiency might you propose to curb rising taxes?

One of the first things I want to do if I’m elected onto the Board of Education is to review the budget with existing Board members and the Superintendent’s office. I want to understand each aspect of the costs we have and determine if there are areas where we can find cost savings.

One key area that I’ve been focused on is the healthcare costs the district pays. I have been formulating a plan to significantly reduce the costs to both the district and the teachers/staff. The main complaint I hear from teachers about healthcare is they have been taking home less and less money in their paycheck, even when they get a raise. This is due to both the constantly rising healthcare costs in America combined with the Chapter 78 law in NJ that requires teachers to pay a higher portion of their healthcare costs as their years of service and pay scale go up.

In the current school year, the district is paying $25.9M for employee benefits. That is 18% of the school budget’s general expenses, and 30% of teacher salaries. In the current year’s budget, an amount of $320,503 had to be included to compensate for the increase in healthcare costs to the district. Imagine what we could do with $320,000 if we didn’t need to set it aside for rising healthcare costs!

5. As previously posted on Parsippany Focus, a petition has been circulating through town and nearly 1,000 people have signed asking for increased busing. How would you respond to residents?

I have engaged with several parents in the district on this very topic over the last few months, listening to their specific situations and thinking about how I would feel if my child were in the same situation. I have seen the petition circulating and have signed it. I feel there are two key issues when discussing transportation in the district — the distance we should set for those that automatically get busing; and how to support those families who live closer than the busing distance for both walking safety and alternative methods of transportation to school.

When I research Transportation Safety reports on the district website, the last report available is from 2007. If that truly is the last time one was done, I would let the residents know that my first course of action would be to determine how often other comparable NJ school districts conduct their transportation safety studies, and if we are behind, to conduct a new study for our district. I personally feel that 12 years is too long between studies, knowing how much the town has changed in that time. My second course of action would be to get bids on providing subscription busing to families that live inside of the current 2-mile limit to receive busing, so that those families can choose whether they want to receive busing for their children or not. The cost would be paid for by those families that choose to use the service, and not increase district budget costs.

6. Do you think Parsippany has done enough to address school safety? If not, what specific improvements would you propose?

In today’s society, we all live day to day knowing there is a risk that something awful may happen. This “something” can happen in any town. With that said, we shouldn’t live in constant fear for that “what if” moment to occur. I feel the measures we have taken to date are appropriate and adequate, even if I wish we didn’t need any of it. Every time I walk into a school building, I see the lock-down signs and the instructions for students to follow if in a bathroom stall. It makes me sad every time!

I think it’s equally important to focus on student’s well-being than it is to secure the buildings from outside factors. Teaching both students and staff to look for signs of kids in distress can go a long way to ensuring we do not have any serious incidents at our schools.

7. What do you think is best about the Parsippany school system and what do you think could use the most improvement?

I love how diverse our school district is, and it’s one of the reasons we chose to move to Parsippany almost five years ago. I grew up in a suburban town a little smaller thank Parsippany, but with a similar feel to Parsippany, except it was not nearly as diverse then. I didn’t learn about the various cultures. Here, my children are exposed to a wide range of nationalities in the classroom, giving them the opportunity to learn so many new things, to embrace openness and understanding, and to share the experiences together.

Where I see room for improvement is the level of effort each individual school’s PTAs need to put into fundraising. It used to be the district’s responsibility to pay for field trips, necessary equipment at each school, etc. Today, each PTA raises money each year to support field trips, assemblies, equipment such as concert risers or water fountains, and more. I’d love to see the district find a way to revise the budgets (without raising taxes) to include these items back into the budget and take the onus away from the parents volunteering countless hours to their PTAs.

8. What non-academic capability do you think is most important for today’s students to learn in preparation for the future, and what is the best way Parsippany can assist them in learning this?

So many people enter the “real world” not knowing how to formulate a basic budget. It would be great if we can incorporate life skills into the middle school and high school curriculum (if it’s not already there). Life skills would include creating a household budget, balancing a checkbook (physically or online), how to detect a scam, safety skills, and more. This can be achieved by a new-age Home Economics class – no longer the place you learn to sew and cook, but instead used to prepare our children for a life on their own.

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