Opinion: Lankfrank Will Bring A Refreshing, Experienced Voice To School Board

The following letter to the editor was written by David A. Cowell.

Rarely does a candidate for the Caldwell-West Caldwell School Board appear with experience in teaching and administration  in several school districts, a bachelor's degree and master's degree education, and post-graduate studies leading to cetification as both a superintendent of schools and eligibility as a business administrator.  

And even more rarely does one one come with such community minded service and such dedication to the students.  

Marie Lanfrank has not only founded the Caldwell-West Caldwell Education Foundation to raise $150,000 for our schools, funding programs, supplies, and equipment the schools couldn't afford, but also presented use with events such as The Taste of the Caldwell, Dancing with our Community Stars, Teacher Tribute Cards and Adopt a Chair.  

She also served on the Mayors' Legacy for Literacy committee to support the library and as Caldwell Council's liaison to the board of education.

Marie sees the whole picture — the importance of preparing students to complete in a much more competitive world, the vital role of quality education in protecting residents' investments in their homes and community, and the need to engage the whole community in the educational process.  

And she understands the changing lifestyles we face and the need to revisit full day kindergarten and relevant and vigorous 21st-century education. 

That means opening the board meetings to comments from the public before votes are taken, appointing student liaison representatives to attend board meetings, and striving to find additional sources of revenue to enhance the educational program for all of us.

I heartily endorse and commend to you Marie Lanfrank as a refreshing and experienced voice to serve on the board of education and urge you to support her on election day.

If you would like to submit a letter to the editor endorsing a candidate or candidates, send it to the editor at mike.donofrio@patch.com and it will be posted on The Caldwell Patch. 

There are two seats on the board up for grabs this November. Board members Rosanne Hansen and John King will seek reelection, and will be challenged by Dan Cipoletti, Marie Lanfrank and Charles Alberta. 

The five will be on the ballot on the Nov. 5 general election. Both seats carry three-year terms.