Thank You

Thank you for your vote and support. The election was certified and I was re-elected to a third term on the Hillsborough Board of Education. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to continue serving our town. I will continue to work in the best interests of Hillsborough and Millstone's students.

Please Vote!

Today is Election Day! Polls have been open since 6AM.

It's 10AM - have you voted?

This photo is from November 2019 when I was at NJSBA Delegate Assembly advocating for state aid funding for Hillsborough.

Tuesday is Election Day!

Election Day is tomorrow, Tuesday November 8, 2022. Polls are open from 6AM to 8PM.

 
What is important to you about voting?

Please make a plan to vote:

- when do you plan to vote?
- what might be an obstacle voting at that time?
- how will you address that obstacle?
- how will you be intentional about Tuesday's vote?

Thank you for voting for me!

Certified Board Leader

Certified Board Leader is the highest level of individual certification for NJ school board members. I am proud that I achieved this in my 5th year on the board*.

*Noted: because of length of service requirements for each certification level, I believe the 5th year of board service is the earliest one can achieve this certification.

NJSBA leadership training

In April 2018, I attended NJSBA leadership training for school board members, including sessions on building your board team, keeping your board focused on student achievement, committee effectiveness and more. I continue to invest in my professional development to improve as a school board member through attending the annual school board workshop; last year and this year, I presented to my fellow board members.

Getting to know your BOE candidates

I thought I was original in saying people get the government they deserve. Then I googled and found some famous people quotes (although I never heard of Joseph de Maistre before.)

"The government you elect is the government you deserve." Thomas Jefferson*

"Every nation gets the government it deserves." Joseph de Maistre

I think what this means is each citizen has the responsibility to research the candidates for themselves, and make a proactive decision on which candidate(s) would serve in the best interest of the community.

What do lawn signs tell you? Name and position sought, that's it. What do organizational endorsements tell you? Maybe that the organization believes the candidate will be favorable to their position. I chose to not participate in either.

I encourage voters to do their due diligence - google the candidates and see what information they have shared about their campaigns. Reach out. Ask questions.

I do my homework, ask the hard questions and always strive to do the right thing by our students, staff and our district. I ask Hillsborough and Millstone residents for their vote on/before Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Thank you.

* Acknowledged that I could not find the original source of this quote.

Reminder: Leadership Somerset

Last opportunity to apply for Class of 2023!
I found my application from 2016 - time stamp: 10/31/16 10:26PM

Leadership Somerset deadline - October 31, 2022

If you live or work in Somerset County ... I was Leadership Somerset Class of 2017. This is a program first rank, a hidden gem in Somerset County. Application deadline: October 31, 2022 11:59 PM. Highly recommended.

www.leadershipsomerset.com

VFW Essay Contests

Reminder: VFW Patriot's Pen Essay Contest 2022-2023 Theme "My Pledge to Our Veterans" - Student Entry Deadline: October 31, 2022, Patriot's Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th-grade students enrolled in public, private or parochial schools. Home-schooled students are also eligible.

Dr. Carey and Dr. Trybulski sent emails to students earlier in October.

Entries may be submitted (along with the official entry form as the cover sheet) to Hillsborough Memorial VFW Post # 8371, 601 Route 206, Suite 26-228, Hillsborough, NJ 08844

Questions: www.vfw8371.org

Patriot Pen Application Form:

Voice of Democracy Application Form, grades 9-12:

Some thoughts on the BOE

The Board of Education is supposed to be comprised of dedicated people who care about education, are student focused, who review and discuss with fellow board members all available background information, and who ask the hard questions to ensure they are fully informed before they vote. Board members are also supposed to have a governance mindset - that means we share the community's aspirations for its public schools and empower the superintendent to make that happen. 

I believe it's important that the community have the utmost trust in its Board of Education and that all board members uphold a high level of ethics and decorum. I am invested in the success of Hillsborough's public schools as a parent, resident and taxpayer. I curate my own learning and am committed to continuous improvement as a board member. I thank Hillsborough and Millstone residents for giving me the opportunity to serve our students these last 6 years, and I ask for your vote to allow me to continue this good work. Thank you.

NJSBA Workshop - I'm the co-presenter!

Last year, I presented at NJSBA Virtual Workshop 2021 on "A Board Member's Personal Responsibility" where I tried to answer the question of how an individual board member can better understand the importance of their role through a lens of curiosity, connection and self-reflection. One of the audience heard the invitation to connect, and asked if I'd be interested in expanding on the topic to use empathy and curiosity to look at the board's role in equity and policy. I said yes, and today Paul Breda of Wharton BOE and I presented "Empathy, Equity and Policy" at NJSBA Workshop.

We encouraged the audience to ask questions to seek to understand the student experience, for example, what must it be like for a student who comes home while parents are working two or more jobs to make ends meet? Or, the student who experiences school only through the lens of people with whom they share little in common? By being curious, and by asking questions, the board can affect the student experience through policy.

Also, we emphasized that empathy is needed to respect and understand other board members' viewpoints.  Remember, the board member with whom you disagree believes they are doing what is best for kids, same as you. So how can we discuss a topic / policy with the intent of understanding where each person is coming from? This sense of curiosity and empathy is so important for board members to develop.

Early voting

Getting ready for the early voting period: October 29 - November 6

DIRT

Powerful show tonight for parents and the community by John Morello - DIRT

Thank you for coming out tonight to share in what your 9th grade students experienced during the day - find out more at: https://www.johnmorello.com/

Letter of support from Wayne board member (speaking as a private citizen)

Hillsborough Residents

I won’t pretend to know your community. What I will tell you is that I know Jean Trujillo and I believe you should absolutely reelect her to your Board of Education. As a Board member in another district, I have worked with Jean at the State level on several committees. She has been extremely vocal at the State level about how the funding formula is effecting your community. She is very well acquainted with where the issues lie and is not afraid to step up and face them head on for all of you. You have invested in her professional development as a Board member and you should now take full advantage of her knowledge of how to get things done. I can tell you that by the end of one term most Board members are just getting started. There is so much to learn. If your district is facing any sort of difficulty, Jean would be the one to know where to start and how to make changes to correct those problems. That is the benefit of experience. She is a woman of integrity and grit and is willing to keep fighting for your community. Please vote to reelect her. I am sure you will be happy you did. 

Catherine Kazan

Wayne, NJ

https://centraljersey.com/2022/10/18/board-member-in-another-school-district-supports-trujillo-for-hillsborough-boe/

ArtsEdNJ candidate survey

ArtsEdNJ Candidate Survey is live: https://www.artsednj.org/2022njsbcsresults/

Are you registered to vote?

Countdown to Election Day Tuesday, November 8, 2022 ... 22 days!

Reminder - tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18th is the last day to register to vote in the General Election!

Letter to the Editor: Hillsborough Beacon (print edition page 7A)

I am a member of the Hillsborough Township Board of Education. Opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of the Hillsborough Township Board of Education.

My name is Jean Trujillo and I am running for re-election because I care about doing what’s best for kids. I am a 20-year Hillsborough resident. My oldest child is a HHS Class of 2021 graduate and my younger children currently attend HHS (11th grade) and HMS (8th grade). I am an engineer by training and I do my homework to make educated decisions.

Communication is very important to me and I want residents to learn more about me and how I think. Please find more online at jeanforboe.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/jeanforboe. The two ideas that guide my thought process are:

1) All children can be successful; it’s our job to figure out what that is and how to help them achieve it.

2) At the end of the day, it’s about what’s in the best interest of the kids.

I would like to be the Hillsborough and Millstone communities’ voice on the school board and ask for your vote this November 8th. Your individual vote is important. Thank you.

Jean Trujillo

https://centraljersey.com/2022/10/12/communication-is-important-for-hillsborough-boe-candidate-running-for-re-election/

DIRT, a one-man show, sponsored by Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance

A one-man show written and performed by John Morello. Hillsborough 9th graders will see this show during the day. Parents and community members are invited to experience this captivating performance in the evening. You'll laugh and cry and think you are watching a Broadway show, and you will leave truly moved. It's that good. Ask your teen ... John makes a huge impact.

Thursday, October 20, 2022 6:30 PM at Hillsborough High School auditorium. Free event, sponsored by the Hillsborough/Millstone Municipal Alliance. Please share. You do not need to reside in town. Free and open to all.

More on Leadership Somerset

Applications for next year's Leadership Somerset Class are due October 31st at 11:59 PM. What will you learn? For starters, you'll learn about Somerset County's treasures, services and more. An example: during the Human Services class, we visited several department agencies, including Family Crisis Intervention Unit (FCIU).

 
Did you know FCIU offers immediate intervention, assessment, short-term family counseling, case management, and court intervention (after all other interventions have been exhausted) to address youth/family conflict, runaway behavior, truancy, human trafficking or any serious threat to the well-being/safety of youth. Youth must reside with their parent/guardian in Somerset County, referrals can be made by family, providers, police and school. 908-704-6330

https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/.../family-crisis...

https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/.../about-leadership-somerset

Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Alliance

Do you know the Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Alliance? The Alliance is dedicated to the education and prevention of drug and alcohol abuse. The Alliance sponsors Red Ribbon Week, Life Skills lessons, Family Unity Nights, assembly programs and more! Meetings are the 2nd Friday of the month in the Municipal Building. The next meeting is this Friday October 14, 2022 at 9AM. Please join us!

boroaware.org

Upcoming events:

Thursday, October 20, 2022, 6:30PM Hillsborough High School ... DIRT - a one-man show by John Morello. Highly recommended. I have seen John so many times and each time I laugh, cry and am immersed in the story. It's a truly captivating show, and you'll think you're at a Broadway show (seriously).

Friday, October 21, 2022, 9:30AM Adopt a Highway - meet at the Starbucks Hillsborough parking lot. Alliance volunteers will clean Route 206 from Homestead Road to New Amwell Road.

Important Election Dates

Important Election Dates

October 18

Voter Registration Deadline for General Election

October 29 - November 6

Early Voting Period

November 1

Deadline to apply for a Mail-In Ballot by Mail for General Election

November 4

Deadline for Application to Receive General Election Mail-In Ballots by Electronic Means for Qualified Overseas Civilian and Military Voters

November 7 – by 3:00 p.m.

Deadline for In-Person Mail-In Ballot Applications for General Election

November 8

General Election

Deadline for Post Office Receipt of Mail-In Ballots from the General Election

Deadline for In-Person Submission of General Election Mail-In Ballots to County Boards of Election

13 Things School Board Members Wished People Knew About Them

Your vote for school board members is very important. It's also important to know what board members can and cannot do. Sometimes board members are asked to do things that are not in our domain, and are the responsibilities of the district administration.

Here's the link to the PDF: 13 Things School Board Members Wished People Knew About Them

Re-elect Jean Trujillo for Hillsborough Board of Education

I am running for re-election to the Hillsborough Board of Education. I ask for your vote and would you please share this post with your Hillsborough & Millstone friends and neighbors?

I chose not to participate in the Hillsborough Education Association's (HEA) endorsement process because I believe the perception is that I will somehow be more favorable to the HEA's position on an issue.

Also, I am not using lawn signs because what do they tell you about me except my name? To share my ideas, I've answered several questionnaires and they are linked on my Facebook page and below for your reference:

Hillsborough Patch

League of Women Voters

Arts Ed NJ (available after October 18th)

Thank you for your support and your vote.

Jean Trujillo

Leadership Somerset

If you live or work in Somerset County ... I was Leadership Somerset Class of 2017. This is a program first rank, a hidden gem in Somerset County. Application deadline: October 31, 2022 11:59 PM. High recommended. https://bit.ly/LSEvents22

Mental Wellness

 

League of Women Voters questionnaire

It's October 4th - 35 days until Election Day November 8th!

I answered questions from the League of Women Voters. I appreciate organizations that ask questions and publish the responses as submitted.

https://www.vote411.org/

What personal and professional experiences have prepared you for serving on the Board?

When my youngest child started kindergarten (now in 8th grade), I became an active volunteer in the schools, from organizing coupon book sales to running the Auten Road Intermediate School “teachers vs. Harlem Wizards” basketball fundraiser. Through my children’s activities, I have first-hand experience in how the district works from elementary school through the high school.

For the 3-year term, I am the incumbent, running for a third term on the Hillsborough school board. I have invested time and energy to educate myself so that I am able to make decisions in the best interest of all children. I do my homework and then I do the needed work. Further, I listen to residents, am accessible and try to keep the community informed. In 2021, I achieved the highest level of individual board member certification, “Certified Board Leader.”

My engineering problem-solving mindset is always looking for practical solutions. I’m also deeply interested in people and how we develop and grow relationships. I believe it’s in building connection that we 9 board members are able to come together to do something good for our children, the next generation.

What do you consider the most important challenges facing the school district at this time? How would you address these challenges?

I’ve talked to a lot of people over the years and my takeaway is that the community supports its public schools but they want to know the funds are well spent. That applies to everyone, from those who don’t have kids, to parents with school-age children, to those whose kids are grown, to senior citizens. People are drawn to a community because of its strong school system, but they are also mindful of the tax implications.

In late 2021, there were questions surrounding certain activities authorized by the business office that had been reported to the Board. I was Board President during that time, and the Board notified the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Education. I recognize there is distrust toward the BOE because there is no additional information while the investigation continues.

Re-building trust is the first step in repairing the Board’s relationship with students, parents, teachers, staff and the community. Without a foundation of trust, it will be difficult for the Board to effectively address the big items ahead, including the continued loss of state aid due to S-2 legislation. I believe when people understand the why behind decisions, trust builds, and proactive communication is the best way to start.

What are the most important factors for student success, and how will you, as a school board member, ensure that those factors are addressed?

I think the most important factors for student success include mental wellness, parental involvement and Board expectations. Achieving this comes in different ways. First, it’s through caring teachers who know and connect with their students so that students develop their best selves. How can the Board better support teachers so they have positive energy for their students and for their own families?

Second, it’s having a strong support network in place, such as school counselors and student assistance counselors (SAC). I was part of the Board that advocated for each elementary school to have its own school counselor and also to add an additional SAC at HHS. What additional supports are needed so that students are ready, willing and able to learn?

Third, it’s engaging parents as partners in the education process because schools and teachers cannot do it alone. The schools offer a lot of support resources beyond academic, but how often do those emails get pushed to the “I’ll read it later” folder? It’s understandable in our very full lives, and it’s also important for families to prioritize learning about these resources. I strongly believe everyone can use additional help, tips, and support. I believe the Board could set the expectation that parents attend at least one parent education seminar, such as drugs, anxiety, learning differences, etc., in their child’s K-12 journey. In this way, parents become full partners with the schools.

How will you communicate with parents and others concerned with education? How do you plan to respond to concerns?

The distinction about communication is that individual board members do not speak for the Board. Only the Board President is authorized to speak on behalf of the entire Board, and even then, only on items that have been discussed by the entire Board. The Board’s communication expectations are expressed through its goals, and it’s the Superintendent who creates a framework to address the community. Public board meetings are the Board’s meeting to conduct its business, and it is not intended to be a question and answer session. As a new Superintendent is appointed, I am confident they will create opportunities for the community to ask questions and express concerns outside public board meetings. As a board member, I am a resource for helping community members understand how to navigate the district, and I encourage parents to understand the district’s chain of communication.

Countdown to Election Day!

It's October 3rd - 36 days until Election Day November 8th! Mail-in ballots are available and please review both sides. Here's my Q&A from the Hillsborough Patch - thanks for sharing with your friends and neighbors. I appreciate your vote!

Name
Jean Trujillo

Age
51

Town of residence
Hillsborough, NJ

Position sought
Board of Education

Family
I am married with 3 children: HHS Class of 2021 graduate, HHS junior and HMS 8th grader.

Education
BE – Mechanical Engineering
MSE – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Occupation
n/a
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeantrujillo/

Previous or current elected appointed office
I was first elected to the school board in 2016, and again in 2019. This November 8th, 2022, I am running for my 3rd term on the school board.

Campaign website
https://jeanforboe.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jeanforboe

Why are you seeking to run for School Board?
I am running for school board because I want to continue to support Hillsborough and Millstone’s children through a strong public school education.

School finances have been an issue raised recently. Do you feel the Board and administration are handling this properly? And why?
In late 2021, there were questions surrounding certain activities authorized by the business office that had been reported to the Board. I was Board President during that time, and the Board notified the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and the Department of Education. The Board is fully cooperating with the Prosecutor’s Office.

How do you feel about the current sex-ed curriculum in the district?
I have reviewed the updated Hillsborough K-12 curriculum maps and they are aligned with the 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

I think it’s great that parents are paying attention to the curriculum and are asking questions. As a parent, I believe it is important to learn proper terminology and age appropriate facts, and that is what the district’s H&PE curriculum accomplishes.

Would you be in favor of a later school start time for students?
Yes, I support later school start times. The book “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker is highly informative and explains the importance of sufficient sleep across the life span. I think we need to first ask the foundational question: do we as a community believe it is in our adolescents’ best interest to have a school schedule that better aligns with their circadian rhythm? If we agree (and I do), then we can ask the next question about how does the school district, with support from the community, create this change.

As an aside, often the discussion starts with how difficult it would be to start school later (athletics, after school jobs, caring for a younger sibling, etc.) and the conversation falters. I suggest first defining what we believe about “healthy school hours.” If it is a priority, I am confident in our collective creativity and resourcefulness to develop and implement a plan.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the school district?
The school board’s role is policy, planning, appraisal, communication, plus negotiations with the collective bargaining units, and in my opinion, the most important role is hiring and evaluating a superintendent.

In the next few weeks, the current board will interview candidates and hopefully appoint a permanent superintendent.

After that, I think the board should work to define the community’s aspirations for Hillsborough’s students. What does it mean to be a Hillsborough High School graduate? What do we want our students to able to do? What distinguishes a Hillsborough student? Once we have defined this “profile of a Hillsborough graduate” then the board and administration will be able to develop a plan to make that vision a reality.

Maybe that means a new high school, maybe not. Before we can discuss a physical space, I believe we have to start with these foundational questions. For me, I want for all children what I want for my own kids. I want all our students to feel supported, to explore and discover their interests, to feel their contributions are meaningful, to learn to think, to develop a fulfilling profession, to know their inherent value and to know their values, to feel they belong.

I believe public school education is the community’s gift to the next generation. The school board’s work is all about the kids, and it’s important for us to remind ourselves of our student focus.

The board will also need to develop a long-term plan to address our program offerings in the context of S-2 state aid loss and a budget subject to a 2% tax levy cap. With the new superintendent, the board must work to rebuild the community’s trust in public school education.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?
In the election for the 3-year board term, I look forward to the opportunity to learn the views of the other candidates, and if I am re-elected, I look forward to working with them.

I am very happy that Ms. Jane Staats is returning to the board in 2023 (she is running unopposed for the 2-year board term.) She is a strong advocate for our children, does her homework, asks questions and is an independent voice.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?
I have the time, interest and energy to do the work. I educate myself on education and school board issues, and in 2021, I achieved the highest level of individual certification, “Certified Board Leader.” I advocate for Hillsborough at the county and state level through my volunteer work with New Jersey School Boards Association.

Your individual vote is important, and I ask for your vote. Thank you.

A month of weekday blogging

Today is the last day of August and I've been blogging about school board stuff every weekday this month. Bottom line: after the first 2 weeks or so, it was difficult to think of topics to write about. So, going into September (yay! that's tomorrow), I am going to take a blogging break and work on my responses to the various questionnaires that hit my email box.

Let me leave you with a summary of the board's main responsibilities: policy, planning, appraisal and communication, plus negotiations with the collective bargaining units, as well as, in my opinion, the board's absolute most important role which is hiring and evaluating the superintendent.

Best wishes for an awesome 2022-2023 school year!

Executive Session

As I discussed in the post on NJ's Open Public Meetings Act, the board is required to conduct its business work in public. Sometimes, the board adjourns to go into executive (aka closed) session. There are very specific and limited reasons for going into executive session, such as personnel matters, legal matters, negotiations, etc. Prior to going into executive session, the board must state the general topic(s) to be discussed, and only those listed topics may be discussed.

Board members don't have the keys to the building

Here's another by the way, and you likely already know this, so this is just a reminder: school board members don't have the keys to school buildings. Building administrators have the keys, but we don't. Board members don't run the school district, our job is to ensure the district is well run.

My opinion on endorsements

The Board of Education election is a nonpartisan race.

I can understand why various organizations might be interested in who is elected to the school board. I think it's great when those organizations invite candidates to respond to questionnaires and then share candidate responses with the public. This is a public service because voters can better understand a candidate in their own words.

However, I am uncomfortable seeking endorsements because I believe the public perception is that I will be somehow more favorable to that organization's position on an issue. For that reason, I have and will continue to decline organizational endorsement opportunities.

On the other hand, I do appreciate when individuals who support my re-election campaign share their reasons why with Hillsborough and Millstone friends and neighbors. Thank you.

Open Public Meetings Act

New Jersey's Open Public Meetings Act (also known as the Sunshine Law) means government bodies (like the Board of Education) must conduct their business work in public except in very limited circumstances. Whenever a quorum* of the board meets, even if no official action will be taken, 48 hour written notice of the meeting is required. This keeps the public informed so they could attend if they want.

Noted: The board publishes its annual meeting schedule after its January reorganization meeting.

*In Hillsborough, a quorum is 5 board members because we are a 9 person board.

Municipal Alliance

Are you A.W.A.R.E.* ... that Hillsborough provides information and events regarding substance abuse prevention?

The Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Alliance meets monthly (2nd Friday of the month at 9AM, unless schools are closed) in the Municipal Building. The Municipal Alliance committee is a partnership between the Township, the Board of Education, parents and community members. You may be familiar with Alliance supported school programs, such as Life Skills, Babes, Red Ribbon Week, Every 15 Minutes and more. Please consider attending an upcoming meeting: www.boroaware.org 

*Advocating Wellness through Addiction Resources and Education

Somerset County NJ Resources

You are not alone.

 
It's important to be aware of community resources. These are free calls. No judgment. Get the help you and your family need.

Family Crisis Intervention Unit (FCIU): 908-704-6330, immediate intervention, assessment, short- term family counseling, case management, and court intervention (after all other interventions have been exhausted) to address youth/family conflict, runaway behavior, truancy, human trafficking, or any serious threat to the well-being/safety of a youth. Youth must reside with their parent/guardian in Somerset County, referrals can be made by family, providers, police, school.

Board Meeting Tonight

In the summer, the board meets once a month, and August's public board meeting is tonight at 7:30PM. The meeting is held at Auten Road Intermediate School in the cafeteria. There will be an executive session starting at 6:30PM which is where the board discusses specific topics as specified by the state's Open Public Meetings Act (also known as the Sunshine Law). Some highlights: the board will welcome and thank Senator Andrew Zwicker, Assemblyman Roy Freiman and Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer; interim superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein will be appointed.

School Board Code of Ethics

There's a lot covered in the School Ethics Act enacted in 1991. The Department of Education website has a good summary with links to the law. The School Ethics Act N.J.S.A. 18A:12-21 et seq. holds school officials (board members, school administrators and NJSBA employees / officers) to a higher standard. This is all good. School board members are specifically reminded to follow the Code of Ethics N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24.1 (a) through (j) which applies only to school board members, also good. 

As an addition, I think all school board members should periodically review the entire School Ethics Act, and especially Findings, declarations N.J.S.A. 18A:12-22:

2. The Legislature find and declares:

a. In our representative form of government it is essential that the conduct of members of local boards of education and local school administrators hold the respect and confidence of the people. These board members and administrators must avoid conduct which is in violation of their public trust or which creates a justifiable impression among the public that such trust is being violated.

b. To ensure and preserve public confidence, school board members and local school administrators should have the benefit of specific standards to guide their conduct and of some disciplinary mechanism to ensure the uniform maintenance of those standards among them.

L.1991,c.393,s.2.

Curious about New Jersey state laws? You can find general information here and search statutes here.

School board members don't get paid a salary.

By the way, and you likely already know this, so this is just a reminder: school board members don't get paid a salary. It is an elected volunteer position. There are some states that pay school board members, but not New Jersey. 

School Board Training

Yesterday I shared about the New Jersey School Boards Association. New Jersey requires all school board members to take training courses, so that we have a knowledge foundation as we fulfill our duties. These courses cover topics such as policy, school finance, student achievement, labor relations and school law. These courses must be taken in the first, second and third years of a board member's first term in office. Then, in the first year of any re-elected or reappointed term, board members must take a course in school law updates. Apparently, no other elected officials in the state are required to take such training.

Training helps me be an informed school board member, and I have achieved the highest level of individual certification, "Certified Board Leader."

Ballot position & NJSBA

I drew the last ballot position yesterday. That's okay, and I'm up for the challenge! Please help me remind voters to find me all the way to the right on the ballot. Thank you!

Today I wanted to highlight New Jersey School Boards Association. NJSBA is a nonpartisan, state-created federation of local boards of education. They offer a foundation of knowledge and support for new and experienced board members. For the curious community member, there is also a lot of free information available on their website.

Does ballot position matter?

Or lawn signs? Or endorsements?

I think this is an interesting question. Let's say you are a voter who has researched all the candidates, you know what each candidate stands for, and before you go into the voting booth (or vote by mail or early vote), you know who you are voting for. Then, I think the above factors won't influence you.

However, let's say you are a voter who is voting for "top of the ballot" election races, and then you realize "oh! there's something about a school board" all the way at the bottom. And you have no idea who these people are?! [An aside: that was me when I first moved to Hillsborough 20 years ago. Back then, the school board election was in April and voters also had to approve the school budget.] This is where I think name recognition matters because of the familiarity heuristic, derived from the availability heuristic, i.e.  you are influenced by what you easily remember. [Another aside: I first learned about this psychology research in Michael Lewis' book The Undoing Project.]

But these factors really shouldn't matter, right? This is a volunteer position, and I am running a $0 campaign. What do lawn signs or mailers tell you about me except my name? The purpose of my blog/Facebook page is so I can share with the community why the school board is so important, i.e. more than just my name. I am also asking Hillsborough and Millstone residents who support my re-election to please share your reasons with your friends and neighbors. Over the last 5.5 years, I have done my homework to become a well educated school board member, so that I can ask the right questions to ensure the Hillsborough school district is well run.

Finally, later today at 3PM, the County Clerk will conduct a drawing for ballot position in the County Clerk’s office. This drawing is open to the public and will also be live-streamed on Somerset County’s Facebook page. The results of the drawing will be posted on the Clerk’s website immediately following the drawing.

But I have to be realistic, and I would say the person in the first ballot position has the greatest advantage, and an advantage also extends to the second and third ballot positions. So, I'll be watching the results!

Welcome to a Board Meeting!

A board meeting is the (volunteer) board's business meeting that, by law, must be conducted in public. It is a meeting held in public, but it is not a meeting for the public. This is an interesting distinction, and one that can be confusing. A board meeting is an opportunity for the public to view the board's work, but a public board meeting is not an appropriate venue for a conversation. That is why the public comment periods are prefaced with a statement that public comment periods are not Q&A sessions. It's an opportunity for the public to share their thoughts with the board before they vote (first public comment period) and also on any topic (second public comment period).

What is the district's chain of communication?

The chain of communication means that if there is an issue, you would start at the level closest to the issue. For example, if there is a question about your child, you would start with the classroom teacher and if the issue is not able to resolved, then you would move up the chain of communication, to the department supervisor or principal, etc. This is Hillsborough's chain of communication.

If a board member is advised of any issue or complaint in the district, they should refer the individual to the lowest level in the chain of communication. The board member should also notify the Superintendent of the issue and that the individual was referred to the lowest level in the chain of communication.

What's the relationship between the board and superintendent?

The school board's role is to ensure that schools are well run through oversight and accountability. But the board does not actually run the schools. It's the superintendent's job to oversee the day-to-day district operations. The board establishes school district policy and goals, and the superintendent uses these policies and goals to run the schools. The board focuses on the "what," and the superintendent focuses on "how" things will be implemented.

It's important to recognize the board has only one employee: the superintendent. The superintendent is accountable to the board, and every other staff member is accountable to the superintendent. Also, one of the board's most important roles is to hire and evaluate the superintendent. The annual evaluation is like a summative communication tool between the board and the superintendent, and ongoing teamwork between the board and the superintendent is essential for a high performing school district.

What does a Board of Education do?

So what does the (volunteer) BOE do? The board adopts policies for the school district; adopts the budget; approves the curriculum; represents the public during contract negotiations; serves as the communication link between the community and the school system; and hires and evaluates the superintendent. 

Board members have no individual authority. Their authority is only from their participation in decisions made at a duly noticed public meeting of the board, i.e. official board meeting. Also, one or two board members cannot enact anything on their own. They need to persuade a simple board majority or 2/3 board majority (depending on the topic) to see things their way.

It's also important to remember that board members are elected to represent the entire district and make decisions in the best interests of all students.

More BOE Nomenclature

So it's come to my attention that my earlier "BOE Basics" post didn't address "where does the Superintendent fit in" with the Board of Education? To further confuse matters, there's a sign outside the Municipal Building that says "Board of Education." The people who work at the "board offices" at 379 South Branch Road are actually part of the "central administration," aka "district office," "district administration," "central office," etc. This includes the Superintendent, the Business Administrator, business office staff, human resources staff, supervisors, etc. The central office is sometimes referred to as the "Board of Education" but that is incorrect, and super confusing.

I really liked how a friend distinguished the two: there's the "paid" BOE (aka central administration) and the "volunteer" BOE (9 elected board members). Hope this helps!

Why does a Board of Education exist?

Boards of Education exist because the State of New Jersey created us. The responsibilities have evolved from colonial times when the Board of Education handled school operations to now where education is more complex that professional educators are hired to run the schools.

Why does a Board of Education even exist?

 Why does a Board of Education even exist? I'll share some history tomorrow.

BOE Basics

To become a member of the Board of Education in New Jersey, you must

1) be able to read and write

2) be a US citizen and have one year's residency in your town

3) be registered to vote in your town

4) plus a few other items such as have no contract with or claim against the board, not hold office as a member of the municipal governing body, not be disqualified for conviction of certain crimes, etc.

5) be one of the top 3 vote getters (assuming the regular term) in your election

The Hillsborough BOE (which also includes Millstone Borough) is a 9 member board. Each board member is elected for a 3 year term, and each year, 3 board member terms expire.

My colleagues Greg Gillette and John Oliver were elected with me in 2019 and they chose not to run for re-election this year. My colleague Jim Ruh was appointed to fill a vacancy earlier this year and also chose not to run for election.

So, this November 8, 2022, voters have a choice of 5 candidates to fill the regular 3 "full three year terms," Jean Trujillo the incumbent and 4 new candidates. And, because there was a vacancy, there is 1 special "two year unexpired term" which is uncontested. I'm super happy that Jane Staats will be returning as a board member.

Please remember, the school board is a nonpartisan, volunteer unpaid position. I am a Certified Board Leader which is the highest level of individual certification. I've invested the time to learn about education, policy and I do my homework. I ask for your vote this November 8, 2022. Thank you.

Do You Know ... Your Board of Education?

I'm running for a third term on the Board of Education, and over the next few days, I'll start at the beginning and answer some frequently asked questions (FAQ). Synonyms: Board of Education, BOE, BoE, school board.

Please re-elect Jean Trujillo to the Hillsborough Board of Education

I filed to run for a third term on the Hillsborough Township Board of Education. I have decided again, as I decided when I ran for BOE in 2019 and 2016, that I will not use lawn signs. What do lawn signs really tell you about a candidate except their name? Instead, I invite you to learn about me as a school board candidate through this blog and my Facebook page. I educate myself on the issues and do my homework. I ask for your vote on November 8, 2022 so that I may continue to advocate for Hillsborough's children.

Please consider signing up for my email mailing list to stay updated with my campaign information.

P.S. Also, argh! I just discovered the links to my "Letters to the Editor" from 2016 are all broken. That will teach me to post links vs. posting the original letter itself!