School Board Candidate Walt Cullen: District is Creative, Efficient

Walt Cullen, 62, has lived in Long Valley for 31 years, and is running uncontested for a three-year seat on the Washington Township School District Board of Education. Cullen was appointed to his current seat on the board in November of 2010. For more information on the election, see . The following are Cullen’s answers to questions asked by Long Valley Patch.

Long Valley Patch: How many of your children are going through/have gone through the district?
Walt Cullen: Unfortunately, I only have one child. Fortunately, she attended our local schools K thru 12.

LVP: What is your educational background?
WC: I attended Newark College of Engineering now named New Jersey Institute of Technology and graduated in 1971 with a BS in Electrical Engineering.

LVP: What is your current occupation?
WC: Unemployed.

LVP: Do you have any past political experience?
WC: I’m currently a member of the WT Municipal Utilities Authority.  I was a member of our township committee for 6 ½ years from July, 2001 thru December, 2007. I did not seek re-election.

LVP: What volunteer activities have you been involved in?
WC: Project Graduation (1991 to present), Town Recreation Committee (1984 to present), LV Men’s Basketball (1980 to present), LV Youth Basketball (1983 to present), Municipal Alliance Committee (present).

LVP: Why should voters feel comfortable with you representing the board of education?
WC: Experience working in the public and private sector; experience volunteering in Washington Township; experience as an elected township official.

LVP: In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing the district, and what do you intend to do to fix them?
WC: Budget: With the current economic environment and a governor who is constantly bashing the public sector, the number one priority is getting our budget approved by the voters. This year, if our budget is defeated the real losers are our students.

Communication: We have to communicate to the community how efficient our district is and how our creative, resourceful staff provides a first class educational environment for our students.

Contracts: We need to negotiate a contract with our staff that is fair for both our staff and the taxpayer.