This fall, four candidates are vying for three seats on the 9-member South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education: Trish Azeez, Liz Callahan, Kevin Diaz, and Will Meyer. Village Green is posting endorsements for candidates from current and former elected officials who hold or held townwide office or higher, as well as endorsements by local organizations. We ask that endorsers coordinate with candidates for full guidelines. Read more election coverage here.
Will Meyer and Liz Callahan. Photo by Tracy Sham.
Members of the South Orange & Maplewood community,
Every fall, our community decides who is best suited to serve on our board of education. This year, I appreciate the pleasant tenor of the campaign, but the lack of noise does not mean this election is any less important. I believe it is critical that both Will Meyer and Liz Callahan are elected to serve another term on the BOE. We have not re-elected a board member since 2019, and the constant turnover does more to harm than help the board’s overall mission of ensuring the district is well run.
While critics of the district will point to things that have not improved since they joined, I think it is important to add some necessary context. Will & Liz joined the board three years ago at a controversial juncture, shortly after their predecessors haphazardly voted to change district leadership. They faced more turbulence within their first month as our high school was forced to deal with impromptu leadership changes, again the result of the actions of some of their predecessors. Through it all, they have both maintained a thoughtful presence on the board, guiding the district through continued implementation of the Intentional Integration Initiative, managing the last phase of the Long Range Facilities Plan, and dedicating resources to addressing student mental health.
With the many financial challenges the district is facing, I believe it is critical to have some board members with institutional knowledge of how we got to where we are, to better inform where we decide to go. I know that sometimes the district is faced with difficult choices, none of which may be appealing. However, being able to make tough decisions, with reasoning, empathy, and compassion, are necessary traits to be a successful board member. Going forward, I trust that Will & Liz are best suited to move the district forward, not backward, on matters of student achievement, intentional integration, and financial stewardship.
This weekend, I will be casting votes for Will Meyer and Liz Callahan for the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education. Please join me, on or before November 3, in voting for them as well.
Thair Joshua
South Orange, NJ
