Shaping Education in Clifton: Understanding the Board of Education
Clifton's Board of Education plays a vital role in shaping the educational landscape of the city. Comprised of nine members serving staggered three-year terms, the board oversees a multi-million dollar budget, sets educational policy, and influences the student experience across the district's 19 schools. Each year, three seats become available, leading to both contested and uncontested elections that determine the board's composition.
The Structure and Function of the Clifton Board of Education
Clifton’s Board of Education consists of nine members who serve staggered three-year terms. This structure ensures continuity and experience within the board, as only a portion of the members are up for election in any given year. Each year, three seats become available, creating opportunities for new members to join and contribute to the board's decisions.
The Clifton Public School district operates 19 schools. These schools cater to a diverse student population and offer a range of educational programs.
The Board's responsibilities are far-reaching, encompassing financial oversight, policy development, and shaping the overall educational environment for students.
Recent Elections and Key Figures
In a recent election, incumbents Judy Bassford and Lucy Danny secured their re-election, demonstrating the trust the community places in their leadership. They were joined by Alan Paris, who unseated Frank Kasper.
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Judy Bassford: A long-serving member, Bassford has been recognized for her contributions to education, including being named the New Jersey School Boards Association member of the year in 2019. She has also served as vice president of Communities Against Substance Abuse, which organizes Project Graduation, and works for Berkeley College. "I am overwhelmed by the trust Clifton has given again for my fourth term," Bassford said.
Lucy Danny: Danny has served as board president and is a world history teacher in Paramus. She describes herself as an optimist. "I am about education," she said. "I have been an educator for 20 years."
Alan Paris: He garnered significant support without spending any money on his campaign. "There were no lawn signs," he said.
Other candidates in the election included Mark Brunciak, Robert D'Arco, Frank Kasper, Avraham Eisenman, Daniel Gaudet, and Vita Marlena Cowen.
Election Dynamics and Voter Turnout
While some elections for the Clifton Board of Education have been highly competitive, with a crowded field of candidates vying for the available seats, others have seen fewer challengers. The lack of challengers may reflect the practical barriers to entry, such as navigating petitions, deadlines, and the stress of campaigning, especially without political or financial backing. General trends across New Jersey suggest that when races are uncontested, turnout drops significantly, often into single digits.
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Just four years ago, the race drew a crowded field, with nine candidates vying for three seats. That year, incumbents Judith Bassford and Lucy Danny came out on top, joined by newcomer Alan Paris, who unseated Frank Kasper.
In November, Mark Brunciak’s, Richie Mejia’s, and Anthony Santiago’s seats will expire. Only Brunciak and Santiago filed to run again; Mejia is not seeking re-election. That leaves three candidates for three seats.
Encouraging Civic Participation
Given the importance of the Board of Education's role, it is crucial to encourage civic participation in the election process. Clifton may need to consider how to better encourage civic participation through outreach, clearer communication about the board’s role, or even mentoring programs for potential candidates.
Student Proficiency and Assessment
Clifton Public Schools, like other districts in New Jersey, uses tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. It's important to note that proficiency measurements are established by the states, and therefore, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states. Additionally, year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.
Teachers
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Clifton Public Schools had 906.80 full-time classroom teachers.
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