C-WC School Board Candidate Profile: Dan Cipoletti

Five candidates are vying for two seats on the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education that carry three-year terms on Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

Incumbent board members Rosanne Hansen and John King are seeking re-election, and are being challenged by Dan Cipoletti, Marie Lanfrank and Charles Alberta. 

Every candidate was sent questions by the editor as part of The Caldwells Patch's Candidate Profile. Each candidate's response will be posted leading up to election day. 

The following are the responses submitted by challenger Dan Cipoletti.  

Why are you running for a seat on the Caldwell-West Caldwell Board of Education?

This is an easy question, simply because I have two children, so it is for my children and all the children in our community. In addition, I am a home owner who understands the value resulting from a top-rated school system.

What makes you qualified for the position?

I have over 25 years of experience at various levels of business managing small to large projects. I am very much in-touch with the business environment and the developing trends which will impact our children when leaving our schools.  

As a parent of children attending our schools, I also have a present day understanding of what our children are facing in the classroom. I know what it is like to collaborate with a diverse group of people with different viewpoints and create solutions to achieve the right goals. I will continue along this path to ensure our children get the finest education possible. 

What are the three biggest challenges facing the school district in your opinion?

Our children come first. When you start there, the issues and challenges are to ensure that their education is the best possible. 

We have a good school system, but we should not be complacent and should always strive to improve. Based on my experiences in the business world and as a volunteer, it is my view that we can always do better.  

We should set a goal to improve our school system into the top 10 percent of the state. We need to increase the availability of advanced placement classes in our high schools so that our children are best prepared upon graduation. 

We need to increase the technology and critical thinking skills within all grade levels to make sure that our kids are well equipped in this electronic age.

We are lucky enough to have excellent colleges and businesses within our community. We should take advantage of this by partnering up our kids with these institutions to increase their awareness of potential career choices.

What school-related issues would you focus on if you were elected?

Increasing our technology and increasing our AP classes.

As I have been quoting, according to the Department of Labor, 65 percent of the jobs our children will have when they graduate do not exist today.   This is scary to me as a parent and a member of our community. We need to ensure our children are prepared for the next phase of their lives once they graduate from our schools. Technology and critical thinking skills are essential to their success.

What is the single-most important asset you can bring to the board if you were elected?

Well balanced thinking and problem resolution. As a parent of children in our school system, a homeowner and business person, I will leverage each of perspectives when addressing issues which come to the board.