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Schools

Kids First Holds Kickoff Rally

The team seeks to hold their majority position on the school board, come election day on April 20.

Hoboken's Kids First campaign held a fundraiser rally at Maxwell's on Sunday afternoon, inviting the public to meet the candidates before the April 20th Board of Education elections.

The team—comprised of current board president Rose Marie Markle, recent board appointee Irene Sobolov, and newcomers to the campaign Leon Gold and Jean Marie Mitchell—were joined by Councilmembers Michael Lenz, Carol Marsh and David Mello, Freeholder Anthony Romano and Mayor Dawn Zimmer at the event.

"We've made great strides," said Markle, who has served as board president for 10 months, since Kids First won the majority. "But the problems won't be fixed overnight."

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Current board member Ruth McAllister, who previously ran with the Kids First ticket, compared their reform efforts with the TV show "Clean House" – "That's sort of what we've been doing," she said. "It took a whole year for the basic stuff … We have to finish what we've started."

Markle said that in the past 10 months, the board has managed to cut many "non-essential" positions, renegotiate contracts and have brought in interim superintendent Peter Carter.

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"We need to keep it going, it would be a shame if it stopped," said Sobolov, of the progress she believes Kids First has made.

Mitchell, who is running for the first time with the Kids First ticket, used her moment at the podium to highlight her involvement as president of the Calabro Primary School's Parent Teacher Organization and her attendance at "any (Board of Education) meeting I can get to." Mitchell said her son, now in seventh grade, has attended Hoboken public schools since Kindergarten.

Gold, also running for the first time with the Kids First ticket, said his business background with Bell Laboratories and the New York Stock Exchange will bring another perspective to the board. He has been a teacher for 30 years, most notably as at Columbia University for more than 20 years.

"If you improve the school system, you improve the quality of life in Hoboken," Dr. Gold said.

Sobolov said that Kids First will continue to campaign with meet and greets and small events hosted by neighbors, while also utilizing Facebook and email.

The Kids First coalition has been shaky since two board members—Carrie Gilliard and Maureen Sullivan—disagreed with the pick for the new superintendent. They argued that Romano, who is an assistant superintendent in the Fort Lee school district, was not experienced enough for the job. 

Romano withdrew his candidacy for superintendent on Monday March 1, despite a majority vote of confidence from the board. By voting against Romano, Sullivan and Gilliard split with the rest of the Kids First coalition. 

McAllister said the board would vote to rescind, but that they are also discussing the possibility of an extension for interim superintendent Carter.

"He's done a great job so far, and will continue to do good work," she said.

Elections for the Board of Education take place on April 20. The Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

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