Five Questions With BOE Candidate Marian Cutler

Why do you want to be on the Board of Education?

Like you, I value our schools and want them to be outstanding. Recent conversations about budget shortfalls and a failing infrastructure has me very concerned. Focusing on accountability, responsibility and opportunity will move us towards great schools in a down economy.

We do a weak job including teachers and residents to solve district problems. We need a true dialogue to understand what people are thinking. By not valuing community input, the BOE built a wall shutting out the very people the board is designed to serve. 


What school related issues are important to you?

Our tax burden is a serious issue. Our conflicting realities of a rapidly dwindling budget with a deep wish list of initiatives demands a serious commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility.

Our opportunity gap needs a renewed focus. We have dozens of programs in place in our schools, but barely any are measured for effectiveness. We need to figure what works, why and replicate it.

Lastly, communications. Let's build bridges with committed, talented members of our towns who will bring renewed creativity to our stubborn challenges.

What issues do you plan to tackle if elected?

We need to settle the equity problems once and for all. The best way to settle the equity problems plaguing SOMSD is to make sure our offerings meet the needs of the kids in each school. It means not relying on testing to close the so-called achievement gap, but instead making sure kids who are behind get the help they need and kids who are ready to go faster can, in essence close the opportunity gap – achievement and education are not the same.

We have dozens of programs in our schools, yet only a tiny number are ever measured for effectiveness. We need to figure what’s in place, what works, why and replicate it.

And, IB. It’s an expensive program that must be well implemented. I am committed to ensuring the program is a positive force driving our kids’ education.

What makes you qualified for this position?

As a communications professional, I’ve spent the last 20 years implementing award-winning awareness campaigns. I know how to bring passionate people together to focus on solving problems and how to hold them accountable. I have a proven track record of asking tough questions and using data and research to drive change. During last year’s IB discussion, I researched how IB worked in other schools and visited 8 districts from CT to VA to understand the challenges we’d face with such a bold initiative – something the sitting BOE never did.

I’m also very active volunteering in our two towns including being on the PTA, the South Orange Public Safety Committee and running our town soccer program for kid’s pre-K to 2nd grade. And, with four daughters (15, 14, 7 and 5), I see how the effects of District choices, budgets and programs every day.

Why should residents vote for you?

I believe our BOE has shut themselves off to our communities for too long. It’s time to build bridges from our classrooms to the boardroom. That means engaging our teachers, including our parents and talking with our kids. Together, let’s get back to place where the BOE and the Superintendent are partners to us in the educational process.