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Haddon Township school‑board candidates debate funding, safety and oversight at public forum
Summary
Four candidates in the Haddon Township School District forum outlined priorities including state funding stability and referendum oversight, student safety and field turf, and targeted supports for struggling students; all opposed imposed term limits and emphasized voter choice.
Four candidates seeking seats on the Haddon Township School District board laid out competing priorities at a public forum that emphasized school funding stability, student safety and how the district should use a pending referendum.
Chris Cook, a former board member and PTA leader, framed unpredictable state aid as the biggest problem facing local districts, saying the budget process is “incredibly short” and recounting an 8% state‑aid cut the district faced last year. He urged more reliable funding and more aggressive advocacy at the state level.
Jim Lex, who has served roughly a decade on the board and was president during the pandemic, said the board needs members experienced in public finance and project management ahead of the $35,000,000 referendum the district recently approved for construction. He said that experience matters so “these things happen” more smoothly than in prior projects.
John, a retired administrator who ran several improvement efforts in other districts, emphasized using shared services and contractual partnerships to preserve programming when budgets tighten. David Ritchie, a longtime educator and current superintendent in another district, said safety is his top priority because “kids cannot learn if they don't feel safe in school.”
Candidates agreed they would not impose term limits on board members, arguing elections are the mechanism for turnover and stressing the value of training and experience. They also said the board should improve public engagement beyond the formal meeting setting, with more forums and outreach to make it easier for residents to participate.
On governance questions, multiple candidates said the board’s role is oversight and that operational complaints should flow from classroom teacher to principal to superintendent before reaching the board. Several noted the New Jersey School Board Association provides mandatory training for board members.
The forum closed with each candidate asking voters to make informed choices on election day; no formal votes or motions were taken at the event.
