School board elections across New Jersey are attracting more attention and more candidates as a result of heated debates surrounding children’s education. Topics such as the state’s new sex education standards have led to contentious school board meetings.
“Everyone is emotionally charged right now, regardless of what the topic is. And I think social media has hit an all-time high of utilization, being accurate or inaccurate information that’s floating around. I think a lot of people have a lot more time on their hands to spend being keyboard warriors than ever before,” said Lisa Narcise, who is running for reelection to the Mount Olive Board of Education.
Narcise and Jarret Freeman, a first-time school board candidate in Hackensack, say that partisan politics have crept into New Jersey’s school board elections although they’re supposed to be nonpartisan.
“The decisions that are made are not political. They’re not partisan. I’m not going to be voting on Republican or Democratic elevators or windows. You’re voting on things that impact the education and service implementation for our students,” said Freeman.
Election Day in New Jersey is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
