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Q&A with: The Montgomery News
Q&A with: The Montgomery News
All Montgomery Board of Education Candidates received a list of questions from The Montgomery News that were published in full in the October 2025 print edition with the headline "Montgomery Board of Education Candidates, In Their Own Words" and online as "The Montgomery School Board Candidates Answer Questions on Important Issues".
For ease of reference, our responses have been reproduced below.
Do you believe in an educational “voucher system” or “education savings accounts” that allow parents to take taxpayer money and divert it to pay for private school tuition costs? Why or why not?
Do you believe in an educational “voucher system” or “education savings accounts” that allow parents to take taxpayer money and divert it to pay for private school tuition costs? Why or why not?
Kathryn Worland
Kathryn Worland
I do not, and I feel this way even though we previously paid for three years of private school tuition. Public schools are funded using taxpayer money because they provide a good for the entire community; strong schools benefit the students who attend, the property values of local homeowners, and encourage educationally-minded families to live here. I made a choice to not have my child in the public school system for a period of time, but I still was a community member reaping the benefits of our phenomenal schools. I do not think it would be appropriate to also siphon money away from that school system.
Francine Pfeffer
Francine Pfeffer
I do not. Public schools are funded with taxpayer money for the public good. Parents/guardians are free to send their children to private school, but public funds should not be used for private schools. New Jersey already provides significant support to private schools, including funding for transportation, nursing services, technology, security, remedial education, and textbooks. Every dollar that New Jersey gives to parents to pay for private school tuition has to be made up somewhere else in the budget, resulting in less available funding for public schools.
Julius Nunez
Julius Nunez
When considering educational "voucher systems" or "education savings accounts", it's important to approach the topic with a balanced perspective. My primary focus remains on strengthening our excellent public schools. It's a top-tier district, and we must continue to invest in and improve it for all our students.
While New Jersey doesn't currently have a voucher program, I believe in keeping an open mind and examining the results from states that do. It's valuable to see how these systems have impacted student outcomes and public school funding elsewhere.
Ultimately, state funds are taxpayer funded. Given the right circumstances, it's worth considering whether individual taxpayers should have more options for how a portion of their money is allocated for their child's education. Any new legislation in this area would require a deep dive into the specifics of what's being proposed. The details are crucial, from eligibility requirements to accountability measures, to ensure any program would be a net positive for students and the community.
It's important to remember that decisions on educational funding models like vouchers are made at the state level. The school board's purpose is to set priorities for our district and manage our resources to deliver the highest quality education. My focus will always be on what we can control and improve right here in our community: strengthening our excellent public schools.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement, why or why not: “The responsibility of School Board Members in New Jersey is confined to policy making, planning and appraisal, and helping to frame policies and plans after consultation with those affected by them. A board member's responsibility is not to administer the schools, but to see that they are well run.”
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement, why or why not: “The responsibility of School Board Members in New Jersey is confined to policy making, planning and appraisal, and helping to frame policies and plans after consultation with those affected by them. A board member's responsibility is not to administer the schools, but to see that they are well run.”
Kathryn Worland
Kathryn Worland
I agree with this statement wholeheartedly. School Board Members are elected officials, chosen for their temperament, commitment to education and financial responsibility, and dedication to the district. We are not vetted for the ability to draft curriculum, to assess the rigor of our mathematics department, or to coordinate academic continuity across schools. That is the role of our educators, supervisors, and administrators who ARE vetted for such abilities. Our district has the privilege of state-recognized educators who bring their education and expertise to administering the day-to-day aspects of the school. The School Board Members should be respectful of the time and commitment they put into their jobs and not unproductively micromanage their work. While individual School Board Members may come from a background that leads them to believe they have the ability to directly oversee or dictate the work of the school, it is unproductive, undermines the relationship between the Board and the schools, and unfairly has a negative impact on the confidence our community places in our schools and our educators.
Francine Pfeffer
Francine Pfeffer
I strongly agree with this statement. The role of a board member is to create a vision and goals for the school, not to run the schools. The administration and other school staff run the schools on a day-to-day basis. They are skilled, trained, individuals with expertise, who continue to enhance their knowledge with ongoing professional development.
I do not believe the board of education needs to micromanage the staff and dictate curriculum and materials. I’ve seen some members of the board of education engaging in this behavior. It’s not productive, it’s creating tension between the staff and the board, and it’s preventing everyone from achieving the best outcomes for students.
Julius Nunez
Julius Nunez
I strongly agree with the statement. The role of a school board member is to set the vision and ensure the district is well-managed, not to be involved in day-to-day administration.
I believe that the school board's responsibility is in helping create the framework and overall goals for the district. The school board's job isn't to run the schools on a daily basis; that's the superintendent and their administration's job. The school board's role is to make sure the schools are well run by the professionals they've hired.
A school board's effectiveness hinges on its ability to stay focused and productive, not micromanaging. A common pitfall that I've observed is when meetings get sidetracked by personal agendas. I've seen personal pet projects and a tendency to constantly revisit past board decisions create a chaotic whirlwind that prevents us from moving forward. Getting bogged down in these issues is not the way to get results. My goal is to ensure we can be efficient and effective in our meetings, focusing on the future of our students.
Who do you believe should be determining which books are in the school library system and in the curriculum and why?
Who do you believe should be determining which books are in the school library system and in the curriculum and why?
Kathryn Worland
Kathryn Worland
Our district has exceptionally qualified educators, supervisors, and administrators who use their experience and expertise to craft curriculum that meets (and exceeds) state and federal standards and prepares our students for challenges inside and outside the classroom. Part of that is the selection of developmentally appropriate texts that are the stepping stones to even more rigorous coursework in the future.
Our school library system also benefits from faculty with a wealth of knowledge on books that align with the reading levels, appropriate content, and diversity of their student body. The librarians also stay abreast of new authors and trending genres to continuously expand and evaluate the selection of books available to their students. They are on the front line, engaging with this literature daily, and are the best candidates to determine the books in the school library system.
Francine Pfeffer
Francine Pfeffer
Educators are skilled professionals who should be determining what books and materials are used in their school and for what purpose. Teachers and supervisors who write the curriculum decide which materials to include to enhance that curriculum and ensure it is meeting the New Jersey learning standards. School librarians are trained in collection development and understand which books are developmentally appropriate for students of different grades and reading abilities. They should be making the decisions for their school library.
Julius Nunez
Julius Nunez
This responsibility should rest with the school librarians and professional educators. They are specifically trained to select materials that are age-appropriate, aligned with educational standards. We trust these professionals to use their expertise to build a balanced and high-quality collection that supports student learning and curiosity.
However, parents play a vital role and their concerns must be heard. If a parent has an issue with a specific book, they should be able to formally challenge it through a clear, established process. This ensures that any decision is based on a thoughtful review rather than on a single complaint.
In the end, we should trust the professionals we hire to do their jobs.
Montgomery's population includes a large percentage of immigrants. What is the role of schools when interacting with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in your community?
Montgomery's population includes a large percentage of immigrants. What is the role of schools when interacting with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in your community?
Kathryn Worland
Kathryn Worland
U.S. Immigrations and Customs enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency, and as such, the school already has an established policy for interactions with law enforcement (District Regulation/Policy 9320). The State of New Jersey has also provided guidance for school protocols for immigration enforcement to ensure appropriate judicial procedures are followed and designated school administrators are involved, including the opportunity to consult with district legal counsel. The school should act in a manner consistent with the rule of law and district policy.
Francine Pfeffer
Francine Pfeffer
The school’s job is to ensure that all students can attend public school safely and that their rights are not violated. The NJ Department of Education issued guidance on January 22, 2025, about the role of the school when interacting with ICE (https://www.nj.gov/education/security/studentrights/). As per that guidance, schools need to ensure that ICE agents who come to a school have an appropriate judicial warrant. Without this warrant, ICE agents should not be allowed to enter. In order to protect students and staff, the school district needs to train the staff appropriately.
Julius Nunez
Julius Nunez
The role of schools when interacting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a matter of strict policy in New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has provided clear guidance to all school districts on this topic, and these policies are in place to be followed to the letter.
Do you support the implementation of policy 5756 in your district? If elected, will you seek to rescind or remove the policy and why or why not? If the policy is removed or rescinded in your district, what is your alternative plan dealing with the issues this policy covers?
Do you support the implementation of policy 5756 in your district? If elected, will you seek to rescind or remove the policy and why or why not? If the policy is removed or rescinded in your district, what is your alternative plan dealing with the issues this policy covers?
"Board Policy 5756" refers to the New Jersey Department of Education's widely adopted guidelines for transgender and gender nonconforming students, which require schools to respect a student's chosen name and pronouns, allow them to dress in accordance with their gender identity, and keep their transgender status confidential from parents when appropriate to ensure their safety. While the policy itself was based on state guidance, and many districts originally adopted it, some New Jersey school districts have recently voted to repeal or amend it in response to parental rights movements.
"Board Policy 5756" refers to the New Jersey Department of Education's widely adopted guidelines for transgender and gender nonconforming students, which require schools to respect a student's chosen name and pronouns, allow them to dress in accordance with their gender identity, and keep their transgender status confidential from parents when appropriate to ensure their safety. While the policy itself was based on state guidance, and many districts originally adopted it, some New Jersey school districts have recently voted to repeal or amend it in response to parental rights movements.
Kathryn Worland
Kathryn Worland
I currently support the implementation of Board Policy 5756; it advocates for treating students respectfully and abides by the current interpretation of NJ Law Against Discrimination, which prohibits parental notification on the basis of a protected class. I would not seek to rescind or remove the policy since its application is not causing problems within the school and keeps the school legally compliant. If the policy were removed or rescinded, the district would need to craft a policy that adhered to NJLAD while being supportive of transgender and gender nonconforming children. There are pending legal rulings that would have a significant impact on Board Policy 5756 and any alternative policy that could be developed.
I personally believe that education does not happen in a vacuum and a school that does not have a strong working relationship with its families is missing a critical component for student success and safety. I believe our schools need to involve parents, who have their children's best interests at heart and want to help them navigate the difficult process of growing up. Though mandatory parental notification is prohibited by NJLAD, I believe our schools should have a policy, complementary to Board Policy 5756, that works with students on how they can speak with their parents to ensure they have support inside and outside the classroom.
Francine Pfeffer
Francine Pfeffer
While this policy is controversial, I support it. Instead of reading the full policy, which is about enforcing the New Jersey Law against Discrimination (NJ LAD) and respecting gender identity and expression, we’ve reduced the policy to parental notification and mislabeled it as “schools aren’t telling parents their child is transgender.” The truth is that school staff know that, for most students, it’s in the students’ best interest to tell their parents. School staff usually work successfully with students to disclose their gender identify to their parents. In the rare instances this does not happen, it is the decision of professionals who know the students and their family dynamic and conclude that telling the parents would result in an unsafe situation for the child.
If this policy were to be rescinded, the district would need a replacement policy to ensure the district complies with NJ LAD. At that time, we would need to draft a new policy that would be in compliance with the law and any court decisions.
Julius Nunez
Julius Nunez
Parents expect schools to provide clear and open communication about their children's education and progress. I believe in giving parents the space to parent. This has always been our experience here in Montgomery.
My hope is to build a trusting relationship with my children so they know I'll be there to celebrate their successes and support them through challenges. I also believe it's important for children to be true to themselves as they grow into responsible adults.
In 2018, Montgomery schools adopted a version of Policy 5756. I am not aware of any problems this policy has caused. While New Jersey courts have ruled that Policy 5756 is optional, they've also clearly stated that outing a student is illegal. If the school board were to repeal Policy 5756, a new replacement policy would need to be drafted. I believe it's appropriate to periodically review past decisions and make changes. If the topic of Policy 5756 is revisited, it should be done with the key question of what new guidance is being added or subtracted, and with the understanding that any changes must be compliant with federal and state law.
What issues, if any, do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and vocational and fine arts offerings? What changes would you recommend?
What issues, if any, do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and vocational and fine arts offerings? What changes would you recommend?
Kathryn Worland
Kathryn Worland
I believe our district currently has exceptional academic, vocational, and fine arts offerings. However, we risk stagnating if we rest on our laurels and fail to provide new courses and pilot innovative projects. With this in mind, I believe we need to work with administration to get feedback on additional offerings that would benefit the students and the school.
In my roles as Co-President of the PTA (grades pre-K through 4) and of the PTO (grades 5 through 8), I review faculty grant requests for materials or programs that the school is unable to fund. It is often disappointing for us, and for teachers, that after a year of in-classroom implementation with demonstrable benefits, there is no space in the budget to support a proven initiative.
I would recommend closer collaboration with administration and parent associations as the budget is developed to understand new programs or programs previously funded by other sources that should be funded at the district level.
Francine Pfeffer
Francine Pfeffer
The district has a robust selection of course offerings at all levels and excellent practical and fine arts programs. However, we do need more sections of some courses so that students can take the classes they want. While adding additional sections and courses seems straightforward, it can have staffing and budget implications – factors to take into account.
I know there are some concerns around the rigor of our course offerings, but the truth is, there are already ample opportunities for diversified instruction to ensure all students are being taught at the right level. The high school has various course levels for the same subjects, and at the elementary and middle schools, staff differentiate instruction and scaffold learning within the classroom. (Middle school math courses are tracked based on an established rubric.) While some people believe we need to provide more rigorous and advanced coursework for our students at earlier grades, the current approach ensures that all students’ needs are being met and that instruction is developmentally appropriate.
Julius Nunez
Julius Nunez
Based on the fact that Montgomery schools are already top-ranked in New Jersey, I believe our academic, vocational, and fine arts programs are headed in the right direction. The issues we face are not systemic failures that require a complete overhaul, but rather opportunities for continuous improvement. I don't believe any single person should make broad curriculum decisions. My approach is rooted in collaboration and problem-solving. I would gather feedback from various stakeholders—including educators, parents, and both current and past students—to identify which areas of the academic program, vocational and fine arts offerings need to be revisited. Connecting this back to the topic of priorities, I would hope that a start, stop, continue exercise would be a holistic tool to identify potential enhancements to the academic, vocational and fine arts offerings.
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