To the Editor:

A new normal for our School Board has emerged in recent times. Princeton Education Establishment positions first, wider community interests a far distant second. Unfortunately, it’s easy for the present Board to say their interests and those of the community are the same, but that doesn’t square with a “stay out of our business” attitude. Nor does it begin to explain why the current Board is all about new wants, not core education needs, or why Princeton spends 36 percent more per child enrolled for the same student outcomes of comparable, high performing districts. What about alterative uses of these resources for wider community needs instead of ever increasing school taxes and expenditures that are already excessive?

Let’s try some new faces and, hopefully, bring in some new perspectives plus more reasoned approaches and needed comity between Community and the School Board. Elect Hagedorn and Khatri

John Clearwater

Governors Lane

To the Editor:

We are writing to share our enthusiastic support for Andrea Spalla, Molly Chrein, and Tom Hagedorn for School Board. Princeton is so fortunate to have candidates of their caliber and dedication. Andrea and Molly are current members of the School Board and have children at John Witherspoon Middle School and Princeton High School, but their commitment to the Princeton Public Schools goes far beyond the interests of their own children; they care deeply about the quality of education for all students, and they have advocated fairly and passionately for students, families, teachers, and administrators, whether it be in negotiating a new teachers’ contract, reexamining the school calendar, addressing new curriculum requirements and changes, maintaining our schools’ educational excellence under a strict fiscal regimen, or selecting a successor for superintendent.

We have had the good fortune to be neighbors of Andrea’s for the past 15 years and know her to be an excellent listener who fully considers options before making important decisions. We were so pleased that Molly and Andrea joined the School Board three years ago and we now welcome the opportunity to support Tom Hagedorn, an experienced educator and Community Park parent.

We encourage all Princetonians to reelect Andrea and Molly and to newly elect Tom on November 5.

Adrienne and Per Kreipke

Maple Street

To the Editor:

Princeton residents are fortunate to have Tom Hagedorn running in the November 5 election for the Board of Education. Tom has deep roots in the community, having come to Princeton as an undergraduate at the University. Except for a period in Massachusetts, where he earned his doctorate in mathematics at Harvard, he has lived here ever since.

Tom is a greatly admired professor at The College of New Jersey, where I also teach. He’s had an impact on the institution far beyond his own classes, currently serving as both chair of mathematics and director of the interdisciplinary first-year seminar program. He has an exceptionally broad educational vision, and he’s dedicated to helping all students succeed.

He will bring his vision, expertise, and dedication to our public schools. I know that he wants every child in our town to have the same support and success that he desires for his son, who’s a second grader at Community Park. We’re lucky to have such an outstanding educator and public servant standing for election to the School Board.

Michael Robertson

Princeton-Kingston Road

To the Editor:

I am writing to publicly add my support to the many who support Tom Hagedorn in the upcoming School Board election.

I am a product of the Princeton Public Schools and both of my children attend Community Park School. The quality of the Board of Education is something that matters deeply to me.

I have seen Tom working with the children and with the school administration as we worked together last year to coordinate the Chess Club at CP. As a volunteer chess teacher, he mentored each child with patience and humor, whether they were an advanced or a novice player. He is well organized and a practical thinker who follows through on commitments. He is committed to involving parents in the decisions the School Board will face.

Tom Hagedorn will make an excellent member of the Board of Education. I urge you to vote for Tom in the upcoming election.

Anne-Marie Maman

Moore Street

To the Editor:

I am writing to ask readers to vote for Tom Hagedorn as one of their choices for Princeton’s School Board. My husband is a person with a very vigorous sense of community responsibility. Listing just four of his current roles will give you a sense of this: he is the father of a second-grader at Community Park elementary school, a professor of mathematics at The College of New Jersey, Co-Chair of the TCNJ Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and the Program Director of TCNJ’s Freshman Seminar Program. In addition, he has volunteered at Community Park since our son started there, leading a Chess Club and helping to build the CP community garden.

Tom is a wonderful parent and a dedicated educator with seventeen years of experience both in the classroom and as an administrator. If elected, he would put his considerable energy to work on behalf of all the parents and children in our excellent Princeton Regional School District. His platform is simple and direct. He does not come with an agenda, but rather a pledge to listen to the needs of parents and children in the school district, and to act upon those interests. He is skilled at making things happen and effecting change when change is needed.

Julie Landweber

Chestnut Street

To the Editor

We are writing to urge the Princeton community to come out on November 5 to re-elect Andrea Spalla and Molly Chrein to the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education.

We had the opportunity to listen to Andrea and Molly speak at the recent candidates forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. Their answers were well thought out, insightful, considerate, fair and straight forward. We think they will make a wonderful contribution and continued service to the Princeton Board of Education. There, they showed us of their love and commitment to the education of our Princeton students and our community.

We know Andrea and Molly as leaders in the community, on the Board, and as long-time active volunteers in the public schools community. We have also had the privilege of serving on the Minority Education Committee board with Andrea Spalla.

We know they are the best ones for the job. Exercise your right. Please vote.

LARRY and FERN SPRUILL

Bayard Lane