Gloucester Township Public Schools Board Candidate: Joseph Gunn

Editor's Note: Gloucester Township Patch will share profiles of each candidate in the Black Horse Pike Regional School District (BHPRSD) and Gloucester Township Public Schools board elections who responded to our request for answers to a handful of queries.

The candidates' responses will be published in their original, unedited form, as they were submitted by the candidates.

A new profile will be published each day this week, through Saturday, beginning at noon.

Today, we feature Gloucester Township Public Schools board candidate Joseph Gunn, a newcomer. Already featured were BHPRSD board President Kevin Bucceroni (Monday) and Vice President Joyce Ellis (Tuesday), and Gloucester Township Public Schools board member Andrew Lalli (Wednesday).

School board elections will be held next Wednesday.

Name: Joseph Gunn

Residence: Chews Landing (township resident since 1987)

Relevant work/volunteer experience: Gunn served as judicial manager at Superior Court-Family Division for Camden County for 25 years before retiring. During his time as judicial manager, he served as the court's community liaison, advocating for children at the county and state levels. He has also served on the Camden County Youth Services Commission. Gunn currently serves on the township Zoning Board and the Environmental and Open Space Advisory Committee.

Marital status: Gunn is married and has two grown children.

PATCH: Why are you seeking election to the board?
Gunn: Personally, I am drawn to public service and believe that our schools are the backbone of our community. I am involved because the problems that threaten the quality of education in our schools, ultimately threaten the quality of life in our community. 

PATCH: How do you feel the board functions as currently constituted? Where do you see room for improvement?
Gunn: My initial observations are that the Board is comprised of caring, hardworking individuals dedicated to the children of Gloucester Township. The Board is often without a full compliment. Having new members will bring new energy and allow for a more even distribution of assignments. I am convinced greater sharing of the workload and fresh perspectives will be a positive improvement.

PATCH: Do you feel federal No Child Left Behind legislation places too much emphasis on standardized testing? Please explain your response.
Gunn: There is no simple answer with respect to No Child Left Behind. Studies point to mixed success. What is clear, NCLB is the law of the land with consequences for schools that do not demonstrate that students are achieving academically. Standardized testing in math, reading and science drives the assessment process.

Those in opposition to NCLB believe that there are inherent problems with standardized testing, that it contains cultural bias and consequently the results are not valid. Other criticisms include; schools setting lower expectations in order to avoid punishment, “teaching to the test” by focusing on subject areas covered in the tests neglecting areas not covered by testing, limited funding options for music, art and after school programs and minimizing teacher input and creativity. 

Proponents feel that NCLB provides more resources to schools, introduces accountability into the public school system, improves the quality of education, measures student performance, provides information for parents concerning school performance, forces schools to focus on underserved children and ensures that teachers are qualified. 

Developing a deeper understanding of NCLB and its implications to the administration of the District will be a personal priority. 

PATCH: New Jersey property owners are fed up with seemingly ever-increasing taxes, already among the highest in the country. The state government has either frozen or minimally increased school aid in recent years. What do you feel school districts, particularly BHPRSD, must do to move forward and provide students with what they need under these constraints?
Gunn: Difficult economic times have resulted in all governmental entities rethinking past practices to look for economies. Creative approaches such as the anticipated partnership with the Township to develop solar energy and reduce energy costs are promising. Exploring other partnerships with the purchasing of goods and professional services may have possibilities.  

However, efficient operations and creative thinking have limitations. Major stakeholders including board members, administration, teachers, support staff, union officials and interested citizens of Gloucester Township must work together for the benefit of the students. Collaborative approaches and consensus building are even more critical as we face the current economic realities.

PATCH: How do you feel about a charter school opening in the township this fall?
Gunn: The charter school is an expensive experiment that has the potential to have a serious and lasting financial impact on the District. A more equitable funding approach with respect to charter schools would better serve the students of both systems. 

Additionally, I have concerns about the physical condition of the building intended for the charter school and whether or not it is safe and suitable for children.