STATEMENT from North Caldwell Board of Education CANDIDATE, Robert Projansky

Robert Projansky
Oct. 30, 2019​​

Open Letter to North Caldwell Residents:

I respectfully ask for your vote to re-elect me to my fourth term as a member of the North Caldwell Board of Education. While I am running unopposed, I think it is important to share my views with you, given the challenges we are facing in our Borough and the West Essex region generally.

For the almost 10 years I have served on the NCBOE (much of it as President) we have focused singularly on student achievement, budgeted responsibly, engaged in deliberative long-term planning and placed a priority on transparency and community engagement.

As a Board, we have been proactive, rather than reactive. We recognized years ago the challenges that would be created by the construction boom that was on the horizon. As a result, we engaged in an iterative long-term planning process that allowed us to prioritize spending of our limited resources. Before any Pulte shovel was put in the ground and well before the sale of
Greenbrook, we had already conducted demographic studies and prepared designs for a possible expansion of both Grandview and Gould if it became necessary. In light of developments at
Greenbrook, we have updated those studies and continued to plan for contingencies.

Recognizing the importance of community buy-in, we have made sure to keep the public informed of these developments. Transparency begins with our bi-weekly newsletter telling you
what is happening both at the Board and in the classrooms. Every one of those newsletters provides the date of our next meeting and where to find our agenda. Moreover, we have already
conducted multiple surveys and held special, well-attended public hearings to share our views and get community feedback.

What you have seen over the last several years is what you can expect from me. I owe it to you – not to mention my own eight children, five of whom are in kindergarten or below – to ensure
that our Board remains proactive and prudent in our future planning and that we are transparent and communicative in our decision making.

Despite what we have achieved, there is no doubt that we still have a number of challenges as a District and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to work with my incredible colleagues
on the Board and the top-notch administration, teachers and staff to face those challenges in the open and careful manner that this community deserves.

Whether this matters to you because it impacts your children, your grandchildren or even your property value, you can remain confident that North Caldwell schools will continue to serve as a
model for student achievement, with a focus on making every student, regardless of level, reach his or her potential.

Once again, thank you for your confidence in me over these years and I would be honored to receive your vote on November 5.

Robert Projansky

I write this in my personal capacity and not as a member, or on behalf, of the North Caldwell Board of Education.