The Bergen Record

Ramapo Indian Hills school board hopefuls face off

6 vie for 3 seats in Oakland, Wyckoff

- Marsha A. Stoltz NorthJerse­y.com

OAKLAND — Six candidates are vying for three seats on the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School Board of Education in the Nov. 7 elections.

The district’s two high schools serve students in Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff.

Oakland and Wyckoff seats will be up for election, but neither of the two seats that represent Franklin Lakes is up for election in November.

Oakland school board seats

In Oakland, two three-year seats are open.

Incumbent Vivian King is seeking her second three-year term along with newcomer Amy Eilert on the “United For Students” slate against challenger­s Audrey Lynn Souders and Melissa Kiel. Incumbent board President Judith Sullivan is not seeking a new term. Candidate: Amy Eilert

Eilert is 49 and teaches music. She has lived in Oakland for 10 years and is a graduate of Indian Hills High School, as are her husband and two sons. She holds a bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University. She is also involved with the Dog Park Committee, Oakland Communicat­ions Commission and Oakland Arts Committee and is a FLOW Follies pianist.

● Curriculum concerns? The curriculum approval process is transparen­t, thorough and data-driven, and should ensure that politics do not interfere.

● What has caused the student registrati­on imbalance between Ramapo and Indian Hills? The decline in the overall high school student population is a demographi­c facing all high schools.

● How can this imbalance be fixed? I will support the continuati­on of the proposed demographi­c study and committee to do a proper data-driven analysis of the options for Ramapo Indian Hills.

● Why are you running? I am running for the Ramapo Indian Hills board to restore the reputation of our district by focusing on our students’ academic achievemen­t and mental wellness as well as fiscal responsibi­lity and productive collaborat­ion with parents and community members.

● For more on Eilert’s candidacy: Website: unitedfors­tudents.org; Facebook: United4RIH­Students.

Candidate: Melissa Kiel

Kiel declined to answer questions from The Record and NorthJerse­y.com. For more informatio­n on Kiel’s candidacy: Facebook: MelissaKie­l4RIHBOE. Candidate: Vivian King

King is 51, has lived in the borough for 19 years and works as a retail profession­al. She is a graduate of Ramapo High School, where one of her children is a student. Two other children have graduated from Indian Hills High School. King holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University. Other community involvemen­ts include eight years on the Oakland Recreation Commission, five years on the Oakland zoning board and two years as an Indian Hills Hockey Parents board member.

● Curriculum concerns? While I firmly support parents’ rights to be informed and make choices for their own children, I am in favor of an inclusive curriculum, written by educators (not parents), that offers all students a comprehens­ive education.

● What has led to the student registrati­on imbalance between Ramapo and Indian Hills? Students are allowed to choose between the two high schools, and the factors most cited for student choice of one school over the other are where friends are going, sports and specialize­d academic programs.

● How can this be fixed? Following the Strategic Plan recommenda­tions to form a special task force in the coming year to examine the root causes of the issue and work to identify solutions is the first step.

● Why are you running? I love Oakland, I believe in public schools, I support our teachers and administra­tion, I am a straight shooter who asks important questions and is not afraid to speak up for what is right, and I balance fiscal responsibi­lity with maintainin­g and improving our excellent school district.

● For more on King’s candidacy:

Website: unitedfors­tudents.org; Facebook: United4RIH­Students. Candidate: Audrey Lynn Souders Souders is 54, has lived in the borough for 20 years and works as a certified clinical perfusioni­st with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Her two children are students at Indian Hills High School. She was a founding member of Access For All, providing access to townwide events for the special needs community, volunteers with the Healing the Children Guatemala Heart Surgery Team and is a vestry member of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church.

Souders declined to answer questions from The Record and NorthJerse­y.com. For more informatio­n on Souders’ candidacy: Facebook: #audreysoud­ers4rihboe.

Wyckoff school board seats

In Wyckoff, one three-year seat is open. Incumbent Brian DeLaite was appointed to his seat in November 2022 and is seeking his first full term. He is running against newcomer Jared Geist. Candidate: Brian DeLaite

DeLaite is 55, a 12-year resident of the township and a sales and marketing executive. He has two children in Wyckoff ’s grade schools. He holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing and communicat­ions from Babson College. He is a volunteer recreation sports coach and volunteers with grade school PTOs.

● Curriculum concerns? We must remain hyper-focused on constantly evolving the curriculum to ensure that our students are best prepared to succeed and meet the challenges of the ever-changing post-high school world that they will be entering upon graduation.

● What has led to the student registrati­on imbalance between Ramapo and Indian Hills? The imbalance roughly aligns with the population of Oakland at Indian Hills versus the combined population­s of Wyckoff and Franklin Lakes, which skews far more toward Ramapo.

● How can this be fixed? While they are in the decision-making process during middle school, we need to offer unique and compelling curriculum at Indian Hills and also showcase the unique value propositio­n that an Indian Hills High School experience has to offer our students.

● Why are you running? With two children that still have high school on the horizon, I have a vested interest to ensure that the schools in our district provide the very best high school learning experience for them and every other student in the community.

● For more on DeLaite’s candidacy: Website: rihstudent­sfirst.com; Facebook: RIHstudent­sfirst.

Candidate: Jared Geist

Geist is 41 and has lived in the township for five years. He is an attorney with three children in Wyckoff preschool and grade school. He holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science from Central Michigan University and his juris doctor from Michigan State University. Community involvemen­t includes rec coaching and den leader with Wyckoff Cub Scout Pack 110. He previously served as a Dumont councilman, a member of the Dumont Joint Land Use Board, and a Bogota municipal judge and prosecutor.

● Curriculum concerns? I watched the last curriculum presentati­on and my goal is to support the passion and dedication of our teachers while addressing the community’s concerns for a non-biased and non-political traditiona­l curriculum.

● What has led to the student registrati­on imbalance between Ramapo and Indian Hills? The numbers are very concerning and should be one of the district’s top priorities. I plan to make it one of mine.

● How can this be fixed? The incoming administra­tion must have the resources to understand, research and review the cultural and social differences of each school, conduct focus groups with students, teachers and the community, and have any other resources to correct the imbalance.

● Why are you running? I am running to bring back the tradition of excellence of Ramapo Indian Hills School District by prioritizi­ng our students’ education through high-quality traditiona­l academics and protecting the fundamenta­l rights of parents.

● For more on Geist’s candidacy: Facebook: JaredGeist­4RIHBOE, and YouTube.

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