To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Dafna Kendal and Betsy Baglio for Board of Education re-election.

With each School Board election, we put our trust into people we believe will have the commitment, energy, thoughtfulness, and experience to make the best decisions for our kids and community.  These two outstanding women have each proven over the past three years that they possess all of these qualities in spades.

Betsy and Dafna are invaluable Board members, each serving as Board VP, Chair of Committees, involved with Student Achievement and Equity Committees, among others. The institutional knowledge and experience they have gained are crucial, and will be indispensable as they continue to commit time and effort toward the many important decisions facing the BoE, including moving forward to address equity concerns and the referendum. Between the two of them, they have served on all seven of the Board’s permanent and ad hoc committees and have chaired five of the seven in their first term. Dafna and Betsy will also be key members in helping the new Board member get up to speed.

During the many years I have known Dafna, she has proven herself to be committed to improving our students’ experiences at PPS. She has volunteered in many additional ways– from Littlebrook Elementary PTO to softball coach. She is a founding trustee of the Princeton Children’s Fund and volunteers with the Give Back Program.  

Education has been Betsy’s life work, as a teacher and educational consultant, and a PPS volunteer since 2011.  In an effort towards Board transparency and clear communication, Betsy implemented Meet the Board Sessions and Parent Feedback surveys.  

Who better to vouch for their re-election than our current Board President Patrick Sullivan, who has seen first-hand the tireless and passionate ways they have served our students and broader community. As he wrote in a recent letter to the editor, “Both Betsy and Dafna have the educational experience, institutional knowledge, and above all, the passion for excellence, fairness, and equity that should be at the heart of any great public school system.”

Please join me in voting for Dafna Kendal and Betsy Baglio:  Vote for experience, commitment, and competence.

Abigail Rose
Wheatsheaf Lane

To the Editor:

It is with great enthusiasm that we write to support Betsy Kalber Baglio and Dafna Kendal for re-election to the Princeton Public Schools’ Board of Education (PPS BOE). During their first term, they have proven to be dedicated and hardworking advocates for all students and staff. A school district is a complex government organization that requires leadership who can focus on multiple priorities. Betsy and Dafna have demonstrated their ability to successfully navigate these complexities and implement meaningful change.

Betsy advocated for the creation of a new Board committee to ensure that equity in education remains at the forefront of all the BOE does. Her efforts can be seen in the current initiative to ensure that all curricular-related programming is accessible to students regardless of their personal financial circumstances, and that consistent communication to staff and families encourages the participation of all students. Under her leadership, the committee is working with supervisors to elicit the feedback of staff and families in order to identify barriers to access and opportunity in academic areas as well as extra-curricular activities.

Dafna advocated for the creation of a new Board committee to identify alternative sources of revenue. She appealed to other institutions in Princeton for their financial support. To date, PPS has received commitments in excess of $600,000 over the next five years as a result of these efforts. Additionally, if re-elected, Dafna will be the only sitting BOE member with a child who receives PPS special education services; this gives her a unique perspective. She will continue to be a tremendous advocate for the 18 percent of PPS students who benefit from special education and related programming.

Betsy’s educational background and Dafna’s legal background make them an ideal team, as shown through their work during their first term. They were instrumental in establishing a modified homework policy to promote deeper learning and meaningful work. As a result of extensive research and discussions, they supported a later start time at Princeton High School, enabling students to get more rest and be prepared to do their best. They also increased transparency and communication between the Board and the community. They implemented a summary email with a link to the video of the monthly Board meeting and initiated quarterly “Meet the Board” sessions to better engage the community in the work of the BOE.

Finally, as the substantive portion of the referendum (addressing overcrowding and much-needed renovations) has been postponed, we have confidence that Betsy and Dafna will be vital voices for the educational future of our district. We trust that they will continue to be good shepherds of the process and responsible stewards of our finances. We are fortunate to have them on the team of devoted people focusing on the education of our children and the long-term vibrancy of our town.

We believe that their continued and effective leadership is of utmost importance and will benefit the entire community. We strongly urge you to re-elect Dafna Kendal and Betsy Baglio on November 6.

Susan and Larry Kanter, Christopher Drive

Ann and Kurt Kovalick, Mercer Street

Linda Noel and Scott McGoldrick, Newlin Road

Tara Sikma, Wescott Road

Felicia and Warren Spitz, Haslet Avenue

Fern and Larry Spruill, Oak Lane

Karyn and Ed Weber, Pettit Place