South Brunswick Board Of Education Election 2024: Deepa Karthik
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Incumbent Deepa Karthik is seeking another term on the South Brunswick Board of Education.In a Q&A with Patch, she talks about her platform and what sets her apart from other candidates.Patch has sent out a questionnaire to all BOE candidates. They will be published as we receive them. If you are a candidate and haven’t heard from us, please contact Sarah Salvadore at [email protected] for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements.Name: Deepa Karthik Town of residence: South Brunswick Education: MBA Occupation: Program Manager, Pharmaceuticals 1. Why are you seeking a seat on the BOE? My involvement on the school board brings the critical and much-needed aspect of parental representation to the school board. My representation will ensure the voice of parents is duly considered in policy-making and is reflected in curriculum, mental health and security considerations by the Board. My current position on the SBBOE has allowed me to provide responsible direction to policy and programs in our schools. Many issues that are presented to the Board are complex in nature and it's my endeavor to strive for common sense governance and stability that leads to better outcomes for our district. 2. What sets you apart from the other candidates? I am an active parent in the district, I have two children - in middle and high school. I am a professional and an active community volunteer, an avid traveler and someone who loves to read and keep up with current affairs. I have a diverse network of friends and colleagues. These aspects shape my worldview and enrich my understanding of the dynamic world that we live in. All of this experience directly influences my conduct as a member of a respectable and esteemed institution. 3. What according to you is the biggest issue facing the school district? A school district as large as South Brunswick faces many complex subjects, however the budget cuts that the district faced this year were the most challenging event of all. Through various discussions, petitioning and campaigning with lawmakers the district was able to restore only a small percentage of the funds. However, an inflationary economy aggravates fiscal challenges for an entity whose primary goal is to provide top-quality education while keeping costs at a minimum and not revenue generation. 4. Are you happy with the way the district has handled state aid cuts and budgetary constraints? What would be your approach? The SBSBOE worked very hard as it anticipated a tough budgetary position, to prepare for this the district had set up a districtwide budget committee. The committee rallied stakeholders and prioritized the needs of the district by taking into account the feedback from teachers, parents and the general community. However, when the final state aid was released the district faced unanticipated draconian cuts. Given the staggering situation, the district rallied elected officials in Trenton to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, the results were not sufficient to bridge the gap in a reasonable way and the only avenue left was to increase the taxes to keep the school district functioning. Given all the constraints and the political underpinnings the school district did the best it could 5. Despite budgetary challenges, SBSD is consistently ranked among the top school districts in NJ. What do you think the district is doing right? The district has a solid academic program and has robust extracurricular activities. We in South Brunswick are also blessed with a community that believes in being deeply involved in the upbringing of its children and the performance of our students is a testament to the involvement of parents and students and their commitment to excellence. In addition to this, we as a Board are continuously exploring opportunities to better the outcomes for our students who are struggling and looking into innovative programs that involve vocational and skill-based training. Our Transition center for special needs students is an example of this commitment providing vocational guidance and preparing kids to assimilate into the real world 6. What other aspects need to be improved in the school district? Today we are living in a world that is plagued with an epidemic of anxiety and loneliness. Given an opportunity for a second term, I would love to look into more policies and programs that better the mental health of our students Ensuring that our policies are supportive of increasing stronger more empathetic communities, helping children focus more on their overall well-being and looking at education not with a short-term view but for life will be an area of opportunity 7. Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign? I am fully self-funded and I believe in running an honest, simple and politically non-partisan campaign for the School Board. I am committed to running an environmentally responsible campaign hence you will see minimal lawn signs around the town. I believe in fairness and professionalism and in the three years that I have been part of the SBBOE I have always placed the interest of our students front and center. The questions I have raised at Board meetings have been with a view to offer increased transparency to the community and dispel any confusion. I believe I have conducted myself honestly, professionally, and transparently and will continue to do so. Have a correction or a news tip? Email [email protected] The article South Brunswick Board Of Education Election 2024: Deepa Karthik appeared first on South Brunswick, NJ Patch.
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