Candidate Statements

We are the Voices of Reason - Christina Longo-Keiling, Dana Dumpert, and Bob Meara - and here’s where we stand: Parental Rights: Every parent deserves clarity and transparency about their child's education. We champion the unwavering right of parents to be informed about what transpires within ...

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Fact #1: I am a current sitting Board of Education member. I have been serving on the BOE since January of this year after being elected in the 2022 election as a member of the ‘Students First’ slate for a 1-year term. Fact #2: I have been a Sparta resident for over 40 years. I attended Sparta ...

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As a parent to four school-aged children, I have attended numerous Board of Education meetings in Sparta for over 15 years. By the time my oldest (now 22 years old) entered 3rd grade, I was attending regularly and even publicly speaking to the Board from time to time. When I think back to what ...

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First and foremost, we’d like to thank all constituents who joined us for our Campaign Rally at the Sparta VFW this weekend. We had a wonderful time and hope you did, too! With less than one week left until Election Day, as the Stop Raising Taxes Board of Education candidates, we would like to ...

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What distinguishes an average school district from a district of excellence and high performance? The answer lies in attracting and keeping highly-qualified, top-notch teaching professionals such as the ones currently employed here in Sparta.  With a nationwide and statewide teacher shortage, ...

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Good communication lies at the heart of successful educational institutions. In Sparta School District, we recognize that maintaining open channels of communication with our parent community is not just about relaying information, but also about building trust, fostering a sense of community, and ...

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At the Board meeting last month, a new approach to the NJ Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) for health was tabled. This centered on the idea of distributing materials for students to be instructed at home by their parents. This proposal has ignited debates and concerns about how sensitive topics ...

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Over the last several years, Sparta has endured an astounding number of teacher and staff departures. In many cases, these are roles that are paramount to the success of our student body. High school English teachers, middle school teachers, first grade teachers, principals, high school guidance ...

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In recent years, our community has been accustomed to a 2% levy, an essential aspect of sustaining our district. However, this year, the 2% levy has proven insufficient in addressing the financial gap and beginning the critical task of building up reserves. Balancing taxpayer dollars and meticulous ...

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My name is Chad Wood, and I am a recent graduate from Sparta High School, running for the Sparta Board of Education alongside Kaitlin Gagnon and Jennifer Grana.  Having just graduated from Sparta, I’m leaving with immense insight into what our schools actually need. Serving as the Student ...

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This video, created by Voices of Reason, explains the current school tax situation in Sparta. The video highlights the pressing challenges brought on by inflation, as well as the recent 5.8% tax increase. Through compelling visuals and data, it underscores the importance of foresight in budgetary ...

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Sparta has been a high-functioning, successful school district that’s been widely known for its rigorous academics and successful sports teams for decades. It has long been known as a district where the graduation rate is high, the seniors are off to well-known universities for impressive areas of ...

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Disclaimer: The following statements are made in my capacity as a private citizen, and not in my capacity as a board member. These statements are also not representative of the board or its individual members, and solely represent my own personal opinion. My name is LeeAnne Pitzer, and I am an ...

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Students protest Sparta NJ teacher's suspension over book Sudden Suspension of Beloved Sparta HS Teacher Leaves Furious Parents Looking for Answers To regain our trust, Sparta school board must be transparent Fourth school board resignation in 10 months raises concerns about ...

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As I look around our beloved community, I too feel the same concerns many of you share:  "Why has Alpine Elementary become so overcrowded? Why are our taxes taking such a sharp uptick?" I felt compelled to seek answers, and more importantly, find solutions for our children and community's future. I ...

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My name is LeeAnne Pitzer and I am running for re-election to the Sparta Board of Education.  Voters of Sparta - Do not believe the slogan “Stop Raising Taxes” from candidates 1,2,3. Their statements and videos are filled with misinformation, including their misleading slogan. Their slogan is a ...

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My name is Bob Meara, and I am running for election for the Sparta Board of Education. I am running with Christina Longo-Keiling and Dana Dumpert, and we are the Voices of Reason. As a dedicated lifelong member of the Sparta community, I want to address a crucial aspect of our educational system ...

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After I released my previous candidate statement, Parental Rights II, I was asked what I feel parental rights actually are. Although there are many examples to list on the issue of parental rights, especially over the last few years, currently many New Jersey school districts are choosing to repeal ...

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Be sure to follow our campaign as we discuss Sparta-specific issues leading up to Election Day! VOTE to Stop Raising Taxes & Restore Sparta Schools on November 7th To learn more about us or to join our campaign, visit our website: stopraisingtaxes.com #1 Chad Wood, #2 Jennifer Lonsky ...

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Be sure to follow our campaign as we discuss Sparta-specific issues leading up to Election Day! VOTE to Stop Raising Taxes & Restore Sparta Schools on November 7th To learn more about us or to join our campaign, visit our website: stopraisingtaxes.com #1 Chad Wood, #2 Jennifer Lonsky ...

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My name is Christina Longo-Keiling, I’m an incumbent seeking reelection on the Sparta Board of Education. I am running with Dana Dumpert and Bob Meara, and we are the Voices of Reason. In the years before my tenure on the board, the Superintendent had been overspending, necessitating a larger ...

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Be sure to follow our campaign as we discuss Sparta-specific issues leading up to Election Day! VOTE to Stop Raising Taxes & Restore Sparta Schools on November 7th To learn more about us or to join our campaign, visit our website: stopraisingtaxes.com #1 Chad Wood, #2 Jennifer Lonsky ...

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I've always been passionate about education. Leaving a corporate career to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher was a decision I've never regretted. Now, as a parent, I'm eager to extend that passion to the education of our children by seeking a position on the Sparta Board of Education. For ...

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Kaitlin Gagnon has lived in Sparta since 2017. She and her husband, Aaron, have two sons (ages 9 and 6) who have attended Sparta's public schools since Kindergarten. Kaitlin graduated from Ramapo College where she studied Communications with a concentration in Journalism. A lifelong writer, Kaitlin ...

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My name is LeeAnne Pitzer and I am an incumbent running for re-election to the Sparta Board of Education. Parental rights is a topic I have previously discussed and in doing so have made my position clear. I am fully in support of parental rights. Currently, policy is in place that states ...

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The very essence of democracy is to encourage divergent opinions, voices, and perspectives. Yet, certain members running for the Board of Education, who blatantly flaunt their left-leaning stances, seem to choose manipulation over reasoned arguments. This recent attempt to tie the "Voices of ...

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In an era where the balance between school administration and parental rights is becoming increasingly fragile, the Voices of Reason stand as a beacon of hope for parents who feel marginalized. The events transpiring under Governor Phil Murphy’s administration provide a glaring example of how the ...

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Jennifer Lonsky Grana is the mother of four children, all who have attended Sparta public schools, that range from ages 4 to 19. Jen and her family have lived in Sparta for 18 years. She began attending Board of Education meetings around the time her oldest started Kindergarten and then more ...

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My name is LeeAnne Pitzer and I am an incumbent running for the Sparta Board of Education. I would like to see improved communications throughout the district. It needs to be a priority.  Heat was a factor in our area last week.  I believe communication should have been sent as to how it was ...

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