Three Questions for Board of Education Candidates

Elections for the Madison Board of Education are scheduled for April 27. In the first of a series, Madison Patch asked Board candidates why they are best-qualified to serve, and where they stand on a number of issues. Patch will feature the responses of a different candidate throughout the week. Today's candidate is Thomas Haralampoudis.

Patch: What makes you best qualified to be on the Board of Education?

Haralampoudis: To say who is best qualified to be on the Board of Education can be subjective or objective. Subjectively, I want to see Madison continue to offer the best education our money can buy and would work to continue this success.  Madison spends a fair amount of money to educate our students and the results to date have impressed the state and the nation. The accolades are fact and as a comparison to other BOE’s, we are accomplishing a lot with our dollars spent.   Objectively, I have committed myself to participating with the schools wherever they would use my services. I have engaged every superintendent since before my oldest daughter started kindergarten 11 years ago. I pushed technology updates at the turn of the century. I have offered my services and knowledge of operations and logistics, which has led to savings of money for the last eight years. I was involved in implementing the current mission statement with the schools task force. I participated in the final interviewing process for the new assistant principal at MJS. I am currently trying to bring sports back to the Junior Schools as a pay-for-play option. I make the time for what I feel are priorities for my family, my community, and my business. I work hard, am a good listener and fast learner, have good insight for business opportunities, and don’t take "no" for an answer if I truly believe in something – yet I have no problem following a better idea or strategy once I have analyzed the benefits.

Patch: 
What is the most urgent issue facing Madison schools today?

Haralampoudis: There are many most urgent issues – I don’t see just one as the most important. We have an operating budget that lost $1.3 million of its funding this year, with no opportunity to adjust without cutting staff, services and academic programs. This is an injustice, and Trenton should be ashamed of this insensitive approach to education and our future. New Jersey has a state legislature that has blinders on and is following a new policy that blames the teachers for all of the schools and the state's problems. In truth, previous administrations are to blame, and the teachers should not be their scapegoats. Yes, I feel tenure is a problem, but we cannot whine about something that is beyond our ability to change locally. We have to be a voice for reform to our legislators to enact policies that will ensure positive changes, but avoid drastic measures that will take talent away from the system. While the schools administrators make the best effort to operate the schools within their means, I don’t want to allow extracurricular activities such as music, cultural arts and language to be affected. We have to update and encourage teaching and learning with more and more emphasis on technology. The world continues to get smaller, and Madison’s kids have to be ready to engage their skills on a global level. We cannot let them out of the nest without all the training they need to fly – to SOAR! 

Patch: What strategy would you employ for maintaining programs and staff amid shrinking state education aid to suburban districts?

Haralampoudis: First, I would need a thorough review of our operating budget.   The budget that is available to the public cannot be used to conduct the proper audit of expenses and services. I have asked for more disclosure and have been told this is on the way. The new board of education Business Administrator has promised to change our reporting and disclosure, which currently follows antiquated state guidelines that are not suitable for any business review. The borough and schools can and must find ways to share costs of more and more services. We have to ensure that our employees at all levels are at their peak of productivity. Every industry is asking for more with less, and the BOE can be no different. A review of performance will ensure the borough and the workers that their work ethic is on par with our expectations and show the BOE where improvement or changes are necessary. This applies from the top down, tenure or not. Lifetime employement for sub-par performance needs to be a practice of the past. The Madison BOE needs to find revenue-generating opportunities. Grant searches are key. Program sponsors from neighboring corporations give us the opportunity to seek funds for programs that will ultimately benefit their industry.