Candidate Statements
By PROVIDING SOLUTIONS- ROSENFELD BOE 3 YEAR CANDIDATE
November 6, 2022
Instead of saying let's try and figure it out..:.regardless if I am voted in or not, here is the solution: 1. Each bus receives a transmission device that provides live data as to where the bus is. 2. The only people that would be able to access said information while the bus is in ...
By SPARTA STUDENTS F1RST FOR BOE 2022
November 5, 2022
As a follow-up to our last statement on the NJEA injecting itself into local school board elections, we would like to highlight the following: 1. The Students First team is pro-teacher and supportive of union workers. There is nothing wrong with employees being part of the unions. In fact, two ...
By SPARTA STUDENTS F1RST FOR BOE 2022
November 5, 2022
By ROSENFELD, BOARD OF EDUCATION 3-YEAR TERM
November 4, 2022
A letter to the Editor struck me as extremely odd. The letter is titled A Group of Sparta Students Opinion on the BOE Election (Tap Into: November 3, 2022 at 6:21 PM) It is signed: By STUDENTS FROM THE CLASSES OF ‘26, ‘25, ‘24, ‘23, AND ALUMNI FROM THE CLASS OF ‘22 It not only endorses ...
By ROSENFELD, BOARD OF EDUCATION 3-YEAR TERM
November 4, 2022
By SPARTA STUDENTS F1RST FOR BOE 2022
November 3, 2022
We understand that the Sparta Education Association (“SEA”) has decided to endorse the “Advocating for All” candidates for the November 8, 2022, Sparta Township Board of Education (“Board”) election. As a matter of full disclosure to the public, the SEA previously invited all candidates to ...
By SPARTA STUDENTS F1RST FOR BOE 2022
November 3, 2022
By GREGORY ROSENFELD, #1 BOARD OF ED CANDIDATE FOR THREE YEAR TERM
November 3, 2022
There is a lot of misinformation being spread about the Board of Education. Surprisingly the Sparta Administrators’ Association, Sparta School District Association weighed in by saying “As far as our members can recall, we have never felt the need to issue a statement regarding the election of ...
By GREGORY ROSENFELD, #1 BOARD OF ED CANDIDATE FOR THREE YEAR TERM
November 3, 2022
By WALTER KNAPP & LEEANNE PITZER
November 1, 2022
Sparta NJSLA Scores Tumble by Subject The recent NJSLA scores prove that student achievement must be our primary focus. At the October 20, 2022 Board of Education meeting, the most recent NJSLA Spring 2022 test results were shared by Assistant Superintendent, Tara Rossi. Sparta’s Math ...
By SMITH, HANTSON & CALLAHAN-LISA FOR SPARTA TOWN COUNCIL
October 31, 2022
FACTS Over the past years many upgrades and enhancements have been made to our recreation facilities. White Lake – New lighting, fields along with the completion of walking path. The Glen – Continued restoration of the Glen. Ungermann – Working on replacing the turf softball ...
By SMITH, HANTSON & CALLAHAN-LISA FOR SPARTA TOWN COUNCIL
October 31, 2022
By NIAMH GRANO, JENNIFER MILLER, AND PATRICK MCKERNAN
October 30, 2022
Niamh Grano, Jennifer Miller, and Patrick McKernan are three incumbent Sparta Board of Education members who are seeking additional terms in November 2022. Ms. Grano was first elected to her current 3 year position in November of 2019. Both Mr. McKernan and Mrs. Miller interviewed for their current ...
By NIAMH GRANO, JENNIFER MILLER, AND PATRICK MCKERNAN
October 30, 2022
By SMITH, HANTSON & CALLAHAN-LISA FOR SPARTA TOWN COUNCIL 2022
October 28, 2022
This week Chris and Tara visited the Sparta Ambulance Squad and had an opportunity to speak to members about the Squad’s challenges and needs Mayor Smith, has served the Sparta Volunteer Ambulance Squad for 40-years! The Current Sparta Council has: Installed a new Video Messaging Board at ...
By SMITH, HANTSON & CALLAHAN-LISA FOR SPARTA TOWN COUNCIL 2022
October 28, 2022
By SPARTA SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS’ ASSOCIATION, SPARTA SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERVISORS’ ASSOCIATION
October 28, 2022
As we opened our school and classroom doors on the first day of school in September, there was a palpable sense of excitement among our students, staff, and parents that we were truly back and that we could finally put the past two years behind us. We do not need to list the challenges of COVID– we ...
By SPARTA SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS’ ASSOCIATION, SPARTA SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERVISORS’ ASSOCIATION
October 28, 2022
By LEEANNE PITZER, WALTER KNAPP, CHRISTINA LONGO-KEILING, LEIGH MCMICHAEL, STUDENTS FIRST FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 27, 2022
On 10/24/22, we reported incorrect numbers for which we would like to issue a correction. We are human and a mistake was made; there was no malicious intent behind the previous statement. To fully explain our error, at the last Board of Education meeting a presentation on the NJSLA results was ...
By LEEANNE PITZER, WALTER KNAPP, CHRISTINA LONGO-KEILING, LEIGH MCMICHAEL, STUDENTS FIRST FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 27, 2022
By SMITH, HANTSON & CALLAHAN-LISA FOR SPARTA TOWN COUNCIL 2022
October 27, 2022
FACTS AROUND FINANCE 12 years ago, SPARTA was on the verge of bankruptcy as a direct result of a new majority taking office that changed the financial decision-making landscape SPARTA currently maintains over an 11-million-dollar surplus with an AA+ bond rating. This helps keep taxes down ...
By SMITH, HANTSON & CALLAHAN-LISA FOR SPARTA TOWN COUNCIL 2022
October 27, 2022
By ROSENFELD, ONLY INDEPENDENT 3-YEAR CANDIDATE
October 26, 2022
LET’S FIX THE SPARTA SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET I have been an outspoken supporter of dividing the two groups of candidates from the beginning of my campaign and urging voters to support the individuals they believe will give the future their all. When I stated leaders “stand alone” and not in ...
By ROSENFELD, ONLY INDEPENDENT 3-YEAR CANDIDATE
October 26, 2022
By SMITH, HANTSON, CALLAHAN-LISA FOR SPARTA TOWN COUNCIL 2022
October 26, 2022
By LEEANNE PITZER, WALTER KNAPP, CHRISTINA LONGO-KEILING AND LEIGH MCMICHAEL, STUDENTS FIRST FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 25, 2022
Student achievement across all programs is the most important focus of the Students First Slate. At the October 20, 2022 Board of Education meeting, the most recent NJSLA Spring 2022 test results were shared by Assistant Superintendent Tara Rossi. The results were far worse than possibly expected. ...
By LEEANNE PITZER, WALTER KNAPP, CHRISTINA LONGO-KEILING AND LEIGH MCMICHAEL, STUDENTS FIRST FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 25, 2022
By LEIGH MCMICHAEL, 3 YR. CANDIDATE FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION, STUDENTS FIRST
October 21, 2022
It's no secret that Sparta Public Schools are dealing with overcrowding at Alpine Elementary School, as my running mate LeeAnne Pitzer detailed previously. Students at Alpine are crammed in like sardines, with no classroom space for special area subjects (Art, Music and Step) and 'temporary' ...
By LEIGH MCMICHAEL, 3 YR. CANDIDATE FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION, STUDENTS FIRST
October 21, 2022
By GREGORY ROSENFELD
October 21, 2022
In the beginning of my campaign one of many issues that I brought to light was the budget. In my review of the last two years budget it simply needs to be overhauled. And moving forward, it is about appropriating funds in the most effective way so that our students continue to receive the ...
By WALTER KNAPP
October 20, 2022
Several months ago, the Sparta Board of Education approved a consultant by the name of Dr. Kennedy Greene. Dr. Green recently retired from Newton as the Superintendent of Schools. He also recently sat on the dissertation team as Sparta’s Superintendent Dr. Matthew Beck defended his ...
By CHRISTINA LONGO KEILING
October 18, 2022
We all have our own personal “why” for running for the BOE. Here is something that I am dealing with as a parent that no child in this district should have to deal with: On 10/7/22 I sent an email to staff plus the Board of Education. I am the mother of two children who are visually impaired. ...
By LAUREN COLLIER
October 17, 2022
In my last statement, I addressed the importance of being judicious in policy review as Board members and completing policy review to protect ALL students. The example I cited there regarded a specific policy concerning bias crimes and bias related acts. These specific acts certainly fall in ...
By KURT MORRIS, 3-YR INCUMBENT CANDIDATE FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 16, 2022
As a board of education member, I believe it is our responsibility to ensure a thorough education to all students, so they can be successful after they graduate. There are many topics and or subjects that are currently being taught or pushed to be taught in schools at all grade levels. One ...
By KURT MORRIS, 3-YR INCUMBENT CANDIDATE FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 16, 2022
By LAUREN COLLIER
October 15, 2022
The role of a Board member is non-partisan and apolitical, but make no mistake that politics in Trenton impact our schools in the form of mandates and related policy. Protected classes change over time. The Personnel & Policy Committee, including my running mate Kurt Morris, former Board ...
By ROSENFELD FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 13, 2022
Statement on Sparta BOE District Statistics Although recent statistics on a national level show that kid’s performance has dropped to national levels last seen two decades ago, owing to the effects brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, overall based on 2021 data, the Sparta district has been ...
By ROSENFELD FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 13, 2022
By WALTER KNAPP
October 13, 2022
Somewhere along the line we got off track. Public education was designed to educate students on reading, writing, and arithmetic. As time went on, other subjects were added. Now, topics are being discussed that I firmly believe usurp parental rights. It is time we get back to basics (English, ...
By LEIGH MCMICHAEL, 3 YR CANDIDATE STUDENTS FIRST FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 13, 2022
One topic that comes up repeatedly in conversation within the community is District communications. As an educator, I have seen firsthand that proper communication is vital to maintaining and encouraging the home-school connection which, in turn, positively impacts student achievement. Too often, ...
By LEIGH MCMICHAEL, 3 YR CANDIDATE STUDENTS FIRST FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 13, 2022
By CHRISTINA LONGO KEILING, 1-YR CANDIDATE FOR SPARTA BOE, #1 STUDENTS FIRST
October 13, 2022
I am concerned that a Google search has replaced actual resources to complete work in school and homework. My children have been told to “just Google” information that is required to complete an assignment. Frequently, Google returns a wiki page as the first option which is not always accurate. ...
By CHRISTINA LONGO KEILING, 1-YR CANDIDATE FOR SPARTA BOE, #1 STUDENTS FIRST
October 13, 2022
By LEEANNE PITZER, 1 YR CANDIDATE STUDENTS FIRST FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 11, 2022
“Don’t just teach kindness, be kindness!” This is on the homepage of the Mallory’s Army Foundation website. As many of you know, Mallory Grossman was a 12 year old student from Rockaway who lost her life to suicide due to bullying - both online and in-person. The four pillars of the Mallory’s Army ...
By LEEANNE PITZER, 1 YR CANDIDATE STUDENTS FIRST FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 11, 2022
By ROSENFELD SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 10, 2022
I put my words down here as a person from the extraordinary community of Sparta, to inform all citizens that I will be running for a volunteer seat on the Board of Education. And I do so, independently, without a team backing me up. I myself being a victim of bullying before moving to ...
By ROSENFELD SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 10, 2022
By KURT MORRIS, 3-YR INCUMBENT CANDIDATE FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 9, 2022
Student Achievement is our number one priority and always should be. I also feel strongly that students who make the commitment to work hard academically should get the recognition they deserve, including class ranking that honors the Top 10. They should continue to be celebrated at the Top 10 ...
By KURT MORRIS, 3-YR INCUMBENT CANDIDATE FOR SPARTA BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 9, 2022
By LAUREN COLLIER AND LEIGH MCMICHAEL, SPARTA STUDENTS FIRST FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 8, 2022
Recently, our running mate Walter Knapp posted a candidate statement about his desire to see the special needs students in Sparta be celebrated at a District level. This was a statement that was written from the heart due to his personal experience. After it was posted, disgraceful online ...
By LAUREN COLLIER AND LEIGH MCMICHAEL, SPARTA STUDENTS FIRST FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 8, 2022