BOE Candidate Profile: Susan Suter

Editor's Note: Each of the nine candidates running for a seat on the township Board of Education responded to a questionnaire sent by Brick Patch. Their answers to our questions – plus one personal statement – will be published on our site verbatim. Two candidate profiles per day, in alphabetical order according to last name, will appear this week until all have been published. We have disabled comments on profile articles to ensure the candidates' statements speak for themselves and readers can decide, without additional, anonymous commentary, their view on those running for office.

~

Full Name: Susan Suter

Current Occupation: Dental Assistant

Are you employed by a public school district?: No

Highest Level of Education Achieved (optional: include degree/institution) :
University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) and Keystone Junior College (Laplume, PA)

Have you ever previously held an elected office in Brick or elsewhere?
No.

Questions:

Where do you stand on balancing Brick’s resources between academics and sports programs? Given a tight budgetary environment, where would your priorities lie in this regard?

I think with $136 million to spend there is enough money for sport/clubs and to ensure our students receive a great academic education.  Sports/clubs play an integral part in the overall education of our children.  Building character, teaching leadership, and working as a team are a few of the components enhanced when children are involved in sports/clubs.  What is learned through extracurricular activities is not found in a book, lecture or teaching technique.  They are needed as part of the education today. 

How would you seek to bolster the academic experience of students with the goal of adequately preparing them for college? What specific types of programs and initiatives would you like to see put in place to make Brick the most academically challenging district it could be?

Technological skills are a necessity in today’s world and the students of Brick deserve to graduate with a thorough understanding of technology.  Becoming familiar with accessing data online, utilizing Excel or creating a Power Point presentation are a few lessons our students must acquire in high school.   This District is lacking in instituting a strong technological education.  Other public schools have a laptop for each student.  Every student in Brick should have access to a computer while in school.  Learning lessons in class on a computer is becoming the norm throughout the country.  We, as a District, need to recognize the importance computers play in our lives.  They are no longer a luxury, but a necessity in education for all academic subjects.

How should the board deal with public participation at board meetings? Also, briefly describe your views on how the Board of Education can achieve the most transparent relationship possible with the community, and specific policies you would propose that would help meet this goal.

Board meetings need to be more welcoming.  No one should be timed or limited to specific topics.  The Board of Education is the voice of the people; or it should be.  The timed question period that has been displayed at current Board meetings is a sign of disrespect and resentment.  People deserve to acquire information on any subject whether it is being discussed at the current meeting or not.  Transparency can be achieved by posting important decisions from BOE meetings on the website and displaying who voted on certain agenda items and why.  Encourage public involvement by providing an email address where the public can ask questions and get a response.  Have a live monthly Q&A talk on BTV.  Hold monthly meetings, other than the BOE meetings, at different locations and different times so people who are unable to attend the once a month evening meeting can still have a voice and be informed.

Capital projects – including repairs to aging school buildings – have long been a concern of many Brick residents. What improvements should be prioritized and what would be your strategy in mapping out a potential referendum to be presented to voters?

Any capital projects involving academics should be given top priority.  Create a list of what is “needed” and what is “wanted” within the District.  Prioritize each list and research the best way to obtain the funds to fulfill the “needs” of the District.   Funds from grants, selling assets (Laurelton School) and managing the $136 million budget better are ways of completing those projects.  The Board of Education needs to provide a safe and efficient learning environment for all students.  It is difficult to learn in a classroom with inadequate lighting or having extreme temperatures in one classroom as compared to another.  I believe the community is well aware of the needs throughout the District and funding for those projects is a goal that needs to be addressed.   The public deserves an explanation of the State requirements for approval and their contributions to a project of this magnitude.  The community should be encouraged to be involved and offer ideas throughout the process.  Esthetics is important, but education should be the key element in putting forth a referendum.

In 250 words or less, please describe why you are seeking election or re-election to the board, and why you are qualified to represent the interests of the taxpayers and the students in such a position.

At the June 2010 BOE meeting the Superintendent and the majority of Board members voted to move Administrators.  When I questioned Mr. Hyrcenko’s decision regarding switching the LRMS and the Vets Elementary Principals, his response was “we move staff all the time”.  My children have been enrolled in Brick schools for the past 12 years and none of their Principals have been changed unless the Principal retired.  With all the changes that went on last year with cuts in the staff, larger class sizes and no Middle School sports or clubs, there was no reason to change the leadership.  I decided then I needed to do something for my children, especially my daughter who has five more years before graduation.  If you choose to move staff because they are ineffective and it will improve the overall education of the students, I will be supportive.  However, the decision last June had nothing to do with the academic education of our children.  I am the mother of two children, and I know the importance of what a strong education will mean for our children’s future.  The academics offered in this district need to be more challenging.  Something is very wrong if we cannot offer our students a great education with $136 million.