Nine candidates, including one incumbent, are vying for seats on the Gloucester Township Board of Education in the election on Nov. 4.
The candidates are incumbent Nancy Fritz, Brittany Bergeron, Brianne Connelly, James Coyle, Karen M. Maschke, Charles “Chip” Pildis, Daejah Purnell, Shawn Singh and Joseph M. Tursi Jr.
All candidates were asked to fill out a questionaire. At time of deadline, only Maschke and Pildis had done so. Answers have been lightly edited for space.
Name: Karen M. Maschke
Age: 44
Residence: Lifelong Gloucester Township resident
Family: Married with two children
Schools/degrees: Gettysburg College, BA, Rutgers School of Law, JD
Profession: Attorney
Community involvement: Active volunteer in her children’s school, participates in local youth sports with family, and volunteers through her church.
Have you ever run for office before? No
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I am running for the board of education because I believe that parents should have a voice on our board. In my township, there is currently only one remaining board member who actually has children in our schools. I believe that parents bring a valuable perspective to the board and that having children in our schools gives me a vested interest in how our schools operate. I want to ensure that every student has an opportunity to learn and thrive in a safe, supportive environment.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
If elected, my biggest goals for my first year would be to start returning to a school board where the priority is serving the students and teachers, not political agendas. I want to create opportunities for the parent groups and teachers of our local schools to bring concerns and issues to the board. I will also be advocating for more transparency, making sure that decisions made by the board are communicated clearly to parents, teachers and staff to avoid rumors and confusion.
Name: Charles “Chip” Pildis
Age: 60
How long in Gloucester Township? 50 years
Family: Married with four children
School/degree: BA in Elementary Education, Rowan University, Master’s in Teaching, Marygrove University
Profession: Retired after 37 years as a teacher in the township
Community involvement: Gloucester Township baseball coach for 10 years, taught religious education for 11 years, coordinated the Gloucester Township Nature Camp for 25 years.
Have you ever run for office before? No
Why are you running for a board seat?
I have been a lifelong resident of Gloucester Township and dedicated my entire career to working in the township. I have the experience and knowledge needed to make informed decisions that will affect our schools. I still care deeply about the success of our students, staff and community, and I want to continue contributing to our schools in a meaningful way.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
If elected, I will join a dynamic nine-member team to help make Gloucester Township schools a leader in education. I want to use all resources to combine effective leadership and teaching staff with a broad, relevant curriculum and high expectations for all students. Maintaining a safe, supportive and collaborative learning environment will be a priority, ensuring students can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
