Brenda Catalanello to Challenge for Board of Ed Seat

Brenda Catalanello has announced her candidacy for a seat on the .

Catalanello, the wife of borough council member Rob Catalanello, has been a Madison resident for 14 years and has three children attending Madison public schools, in first, fourth and seventh grades.

In a prepared statement, Catalanello, 43, said she has been an active volunteer in , , and currently serves as the PTO co-president.

"Like most parents in the district, I am pleased with the education my children have received thus far, but like many taxpayers in Madison, I am concerned with the financial stewardship of the Board of Education," Catalanello said in the release.

"I understand the education budget process is complex and rife with financial constraints, whether in the form of unfunded state mandates or healthcare payments, however, I believe that with tighter controls and a sharper eye on non-classroom spending we can focus more of the funding on the students.

"I am committed to doing what is best for the students of Madison and increase communication and dialogue with the residents. We need to take a long hard look at the future of the district as funding gets more and more scarce. Now is the time for Madison to look, not at the tax base, but at the vast knowledge base for new and innovative ways to maintain and even improve the quality of education in Madison."

She added, "The people of Madison have an opportunity to have their voices heard on April 27 when they vote for their Board representatives and the school budget. I urge voters to separate perceptions of recent Board decisions from the budget itself. True change will come only with a change in representation."

Catalanello also serves on the Morris Area Covenant House Auxiliary board, the board of the Friends of the , and is co-chairwoman of Education First.  She is a graduate of Lehigh University and previously worked at AT&T.