1) Will you pledge to
vote against the $7.5M administration building? Please explain.
DK:. I am adamantly against the demolition and new
construction of the Lincoln School Administration building as proposed. The capital reserves were quietly raised through
a significant increase in the school portion of the property tax over the last
few years. Board members openly admitted, as part of their plan, they would use
one of two $10,000/month leasing options available during the long term
construction project. If those spaces
fulfill their needs, why would we spend the equivalent of more than 60 years
worth of rent on a new building? That’s
not good financial planning. Although
not straightforward, there are state approved methods to recoup the excessive
capital reserve funds back into the general operating fund and significantly
reduce the school portion of the property tax on a long term basis.
2) Does Lodi have a
nepotism problem? If you answer “yes”,
please provide one suggestion to combat it.
DK: When my family decided to call Lodi home, I was already aware of the high level of family relationships in the governmental and administrative offices. This did not bother me as I understood many communities throughout the United States started as family hubs and family members often follow in civic orientated career paths. However, I am bothered as I learn more and more about the qualifications and process in which some have received their positions. Any person who is hired for a publically funded position should be fully qualified, a top candidate of all available applicants, and compensated appropriately for their position. This is not always the case in Lodi. I would not restrict family members from being recommended, applying for a position, or considered for promotions, but I would require anyone with familial conflicts to officially recuse themselves from the decision making process and the hiring team members to base their decision objectively against all qualified applicants.
3) Should any board
employee be earning a salary in excess of $200,000? Please explain.
DK: Compensation in any industry, public or private, is a touchy subject at all levels. I can approve of a top level education official in some New Jersey districts being paid over $200k a year, however there are many things to be considered. Local cost of living, size of school district, experience, and performance should all be factors in making that decision. State laws also play a role as it often dictates trends that are hard to go against. Currently, many school districts, of similar student enrollment size to Lodi, maximize top level administrative contracts based on state guidelines. What is within the board’s control is the bonus eligibility. Board members should be responsible to set high, but achievable goals that directly relate to student performance, engagement, or operational efficiencies.
4) Please list one
area of academics that you would like the board to focus more attention. Why?
