Bill Loughran: Challenger Candidate for Full Term on Rumson BOE

• Name, age and address: Bill Loughran, 46, 69 Park Ave.

• Occupation and educational background:

A graduate of Bucknell University, I have been an employee of the Holmdel Township School District for the past 25 years, first as a high school English teacher and cross country/track coach for seventeen years, followed by eight years as a building administrator, including my current role for the last five years as the principal of Holmdel High School. 

• Affiliations (volunteer, community, other):

I am a parishioner of Holy Cross, where I taught  CCD classes and serve currently as a lector. I have also been an active volunteer in the Rumson Recreation program since 2005.  

• Have you ever held a position on a school board, here or elsewhere, and, if so, for how long and when?

My previous experience as a school board member in Highlands (1992-1994) has prepared me well to make a positive contribution to the board.

• How many years have you lived in Rumson and how many children, if any, (include ages) do you have in the district schools?

My wife Nancy and I have lived in Rumson for 15 years. We have two children in the school district (Kyle, seventh grade, and Becky, fifth grade). 

• What was your impetus for running for a seat on the BOE?

I have always been interested in the work of a board of education, going back to my high school days when I was a student representative to the BOE. I am also a firm believer of giving back to one's community in terms of talent and/or time.

I believe I can make a positive contribution to our Board of Education and at the same time set a good example for my children about meaningful community service.

• What do you feel makes you uniquely qualified for this position?

I believe my professional background as a career educator, as well as my previous experience on a school board, make me qualified to serve our community in this capacity.

• What do you feel is the primary issue the board is faced with and how, specifically, would you address that issue should you be elected?

No less than three state and national reforms to education (Common Core Curriculum Standards, Principal and Teacher Evaluation Systems, and School Employee Tenure Reform), as well as the ever-present pressure to develop and maintain a school budget that meets the needs of our students without overburdening our taxpayers, has made the role of a school board member more important than ever.

The decisions this body of elected volunteers makes over the next few months and years will reverberate on into the next decade. If elected, my experience can assist our school community during this critical time.

• The board has been accused of not being transparent enough. Do you feel that is true or not? If so, why or why not and how would you remedy the complaint?

I am not sure this is a fair assessment of the current BOE and its work. For legal reasons, a board may not disclose certain matters to the public.

That being said, I believe there are steps the BOE can take to change this perception. A more detailed agenda of its meetings, and the posting of minutes of its committee meetings on its Web site would go a long way to involve the community in its work and regaining any trust that may have been lost.