Three incumbents run uncontested in board race Trent, Shaw and Stampe seek re-election BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer ALLENTOWN - All that seems daunting about serving on the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education cannot deter three incumbents from wanting to serve another three years. In the April 15 election for the three open seats on the regional board, Elizabeth Trent is running uncontested for the Allentown seat and Christopher James Shaw and Joseph Stampe are running uncontested for the two Upper Freehold seats. The candidates were asked to provide a snapshot of the district they're working in. They described a district on the verge of greatness with an excellent administration, a professional and caring staff, dedicated and hands-on parents, a cohesively working board of education and talented and driven students who are all in the midst of adjusting to significant changes in the senior administrative staff and growing community. Trent, 53, who has lived in Allentown for 23 years, has a son in theMarines and a daughter attending Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. She teaches American literature and writing at South Brunswick High School in South Brunswick. Trent holds a bachelor's degree and has done graduate work in English education. When asked why she decided to run again, Trent who has served on the board for the past five years, said, "The changes the board started - the new school, curriculum work, and going from good to great is under way; I want be a part of seeing those through." Shaw, 38, has lived in Upper Freehold for the past eight years. He and his wife, Susanne, have three children, ages 7, 6 and 3. Since receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Thomas Aquinas College in New York, he has worked for several technology companies and is currently employed at J.P. Morgan Chase as a vice president of product sales. He also serves as the CEO of his family's property management company. An active member of the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary/Middle School PTA, Shaw has been a member of the board for three years. He said he first ran for the board in 2005 because the district was searching for a superintendent, trying to improve communication between the community and school district, developing its educational programs, staff and extracurricular activities and improving fiscal responsibility and long-term district planning. "I believe that over the last three years, we as a board have worked hard to successfully tackle these issues," he said. "Having said that, I believe there is much more work to be done and I am committed to seeing the work through to completion." Stampe, 42, has lived inUpper Freehold for eight years with his wife, Jennifer, and three children ages, 9, 6 and 4, two of whom attend schools in the district. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Drew University in Madison and a master's degree in corporate and organizational communications from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teneck. Stampe has had a 21-year career in institutional advancement and currrently serves as the vice president of development for Princeton HealthCare System in Princeton. "I first decided to run for the board of education because I believed that our district as a whole could achieve a higher standard than it had and feltmy experience in higher education, financialmanagement, construction projects and executive recruiting would be an asset to the board," he said. "As a parent of three school-age children, I was personallymotivated to help our district achieve its highest potential." All of the candidates were asked to describe what they see as themost pressing issues the board is facing at this time. Shaw said the board has to complete the middle school as there is lack of space for educational purposes. Trent said the board has to get the new middle school built and set and align the curriculumas well as improve culture at the high school level. Stampe said the district needs to improve academic achievement, provide for a safe and healthy learning environment and embark on a long-term strategic plan. With regard to strategic planning, Stampe said the board and the community need to work together. "Since the last plan was done, we have had an influx of new residents into our community," he said. "We need to involve our community in setting the course for our schools for the next five years, which will undoubtedly include continued discussion of regionalization with Millstone." Stampe said the board is 100 percent committed to getting the newmiddle school open on time. The school is scheduled to open in September 2010 on Breza Road and is currently in the preconstruction phase. "That said, the board has encountered hurdle after hurdle in our progress toward that goal, fromremediation to wastewater," he said. "The board will continue to work hard to ensure that our project meets our timeline and is within our budget." Shaw said he believes the new school will open on time. "This board is truly dedicated tomaking this a reality," he said. "We have a strong team in place and are reviewing updates while continuously searching for timeline and cost improvements across the board." Trent also belives the school will open on time. "Every vote the board has rendered in the last few years has been a clear effort to move this project forward and keep on our critical path," she said. The candidates were asked to give the current board a grade. Shaw said he would praise the current board for working cohesively, opening lines of communication in the district and community, hiring an outstanding superintendent and assistant superintendent and for supporting the improvement of curriculum, planning and the advancement of technology. Trent said she would give the board an "outstanding." "Having faced multiple setbacks which have been entirely out of our control, we have done everything in our power to advance and speed up the building of our new school," she said. Stampe said he would give the board a B+. "Despite numerous unexpected hurdles, we accomplished all but one goal we set for the district and board at the beginning of my term as president," he said. "We hired an outstanding superintendent and assistant superintendent.We improved communication and use of technology and have made substantial progress on our middle school project. Of course, I do think we can and need to domore, which is why I decided to run for a seat on the Board of Education." Stampe said residents should vote for him because he believes he has made decisions in the best interest of the community and its children. "I think our district has great potential and if re-elected I will continue to give my time, energy and effort on behalf of our schools," he said. Trent said residents should vote for her because every board should include someone who works in the field. "I come to the board with daily experience in education," she said. "For the past 30 years I have been working with and for kids." Shaw said he is seeking residents' support because he is a committed boardmember who is willing to listen, ask questions, set goals and work diligently while being fiscally responsible and putting the children's and communities' best interests first.