Responsible Effective Education for West Essex School District – TAPinto.net

Questions & Answers from Anthony (Tony) Rubinich, Running for Reelection to the West Essex Board of Education to Represent Fairfield Township – Election Day November 3, 2020:

1) What qualifications/experience make you the best person to hold this position?

As a Board Member since April 2011, I have served on every standing committee at least once and many multiple times, incl. Building & Grounds, Finance, Negotiations, Policy, Public Relations and Technology; and also served on numerous Ad-Hoc committees stood up and necessitated by events at the time, incl. Safety & School Security in response to the Sandy Hook school shooting in CT that impacted the entire country and Traffic Management in response to a spike in accidents that took place both on and at the entry and exit of the West Essex campus eventually resulting in the installation of the traffic light on West Greenbrook Rd.
I have served in leadership roles as Committee Chairperson and Vice President several times.
I have been the responsible Board Delegate to the Essex County School Boards Association for West Essex since 2013 and served as the Board’s New Jersey School Boards Association Delegate-Alternate in 2017 & 2018
I am certified by the New Jersey School Boards Association as a Certified Board Member which formally acknowledges essential governance skills necessary to be an effective Board Member.
As a Parent, with my Wife – Laura – I helped raise our three children – Alexa, Andrew, and Anthony – who graduated from West Essex in the last few years. While some may say Board Members should be parents of current students, I definitely believe it is important to have the benefit of a lifecycle perspective in terms of being able to contribute where necessary and apply lessons learned to improve and potentially avoid recurring mistakes.
As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® I am well-versed in critical project management skills and methodologies which include Planning, Budgeting, Human Resource Management, Scope Management, Scheduling, and Risk Management. I am currently a Senior Program Manager at L3Harris Technologies, Inc. responsible for managing the Global Positioning System (GPS) On Orbit Support Program to ensure continued high quality and reliability performance of the systems constellation of space vehicles.

I believe my strong foundation in managing complex technology systems coupled with my solid experience on the West Essex Board demonstrate my qualifications.

2) What three things do you most want to accomplish if you are elected?

Continuing to serve the residents of Fairfield in a professional and responsible manner by being as accessible and approachable as I possibly can; whenever anyone has reached out to me, I have always made it a priority to acknowledge and ideally ensure their concerns or issues are addressed.
Ensure the District’s Strategic Plan Initiative is reengaged as soon as possible following the recovery from the current Covid pandemic, once full in-classroom instruction returns on campus.
Improve the West Essex District’s overall ranking and standing both in the State of New Jersey and nationwide as measured and published in magazines such as New Jersey Monthly and U.S. News & World Report. While there admittedly are structural and less controllable factors that have adversely affected how the District stacks up, the fact of the matter is West Essex is a top tier school in the State and needs to do more to make those grades.

3) What are the most important issues facing the school district and board?

Full recovery from the Covid-19 impacts in the classroom to ensure students do not fall too far behind such that they cannot catch up and succeed. (District)
Servicing of special needs students. Perhaps more than any other group, these students have difficult challenges every day that are evidently exacerbated with Covid-19 and continued remote distance learning. (District)
Potential funding gaps between what is needed and what is available. (District)
Board Operations are suffering with Covid-19 as several key activities have needed to be deferred and suspended. (Board & District)

4) Any Additional Information?

Born, raised, educated and largely employed in Essex County my whole life
Fairfield resident since 1999
Am graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ
Am graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Montclair State College (now University), Upper Montclair, NJ
As a licensed Realtor® with Century 21 Wessex Realty Corporation, I also have a keen perspective with regard to the critical importance and influence strong school systems have for the community and all of its stakeholders.

Your Vote for Responsible Effective Education – Sincere thanks for your consideration & support!

Tony