Park Ridge will be home to New Jersey’s youngest elected official come January 2024.
Robert Fischer, an 18-year-old, is one of three candidates running for the three seats available on the Park Ridge Board of Education this coming Fall.
Fischer ran unopposed for the office and fellow newcomer Rachelle Browne will serve alongside him, succeeding retiring members Deborah Clare and Lauren Sum. Incumbent Natalie Agoos will retain her existing position.
Systematic Changes
Noted he was eager to serve on the board, Fischer argued in a press statement that he plans to push for systematic changes to the school district that he seeds as failing students and teachers.
“For too long, the Park Ridge Board of Education has raised taxes in our town, while our schools’ rankings continue to drop,” he said. “This is undoubtedly a great honor, but it will come with many daunting responsibilities.”
Recent High School Graduate
Despite his youth, Fischer said he believes he will be able to serve his constituents due to his history with the town and the education system therein.
“I know this school district better than most. I walked the hallways of Park Ridge High School not long ago, and I know students and teachers alike are suffering due to funds filling administrators’ pockets, not buying teachers’ equipment or adding more Honors and AP classes,” he said.
One of Fischer’s biggest initiatives will be to improve school rankings while decreasing taxes and is questioning the salary of Superintendent Dr. Robert Gamper, whose contract through 2026.
Looking to Support Teachers
“It is simply unacceptable that our superintendent is one of the highest-paid public employees in New Jersey, while students perform below expectations every single year,” he said. “Our teachers are deprived of what they need to teach their classes, while the budget still soars every single year.”
The school board candidate noted the Park Ridge’s superintendent is making $189 per student when towns such as Ridgewood and Paramus pay between $30-40 per student.
“I’m running first and foremost to provide our students with the quality education they need while lowering taxes by eliminating or reducing bureaucracy in the district,” he continued.
GOP Background
Additionally, Fischer said he would push back on the Murphy Administration’s efforts to mandate sexual and racial education curriculum across the state.
“I will stand up to Governor Murphy’s pseudoscientific and inappropriate sex and racial education curriculum, which the current Board has failed to do,” he said. “I may be young, but I’m not stupid, and neither are the people of Park Ridge.”
Fischer has gained notoriety in Bergen County for his political involvement—first as a Field Director for State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-39) as well as the youngest member of the Bergen County Republican Organization (BCRO)’s policy committee.
Sorry son, but you are young and stupid. A George Santos in the making. Maybe the Superintendent’s salary is based on prevailing rates for the job and not on a per student cost ratio? Maybe (no, definitely) you know nothing about sex and spouting off about “pseudoscience” makes you look even more foolish than the rest of your infantile platform. Maybe the problem with falling test scores is that the students are as miserably ignorant as you are.
For immediate release:
Following news reports of an unopposed candidacy for Park Ridge Board of Education, long-time Park Ridge resident and educator, Lori Fredrics announces her write-in campaign for Park Ridge Board of Education for this November’s election cycle.
Ms. Fredrics brings decades of international experience as a performer and university-level and private music teacher, with a focus on preparing elementary and high school music and theatre students for college admissions. In her role as a university instructor, she has also trained and mentored many college students, who went on to be elementary and high school teachers. Her undergraduate degree in Music Management from William Paterson University, and Masters degree in Voice Performance from University of Texas at Austin, as well as her experience as a successful music business owner, equips her with the common-sense, practical knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions on behalf of students in the Park Ridge community.
Ms. Fredrics is a long-time resident of Park Ridge, her family having moved to this community in 1971, and is a 1983 graduate of Park Ridge High School. She believes the quality of education received here, as well as the sense of community she experienced in Park Ridge, was instrumental in her career success. She is dedicated to making sure that current and future students in the Park Ridge School system have the same excellent head start that she had when they go out into the world to pursue their goals, both in higher education and in their careers.
Ms. Fredrics believes that her respect of and support for our teachers’ knowledge of what works best in the classroom for a diverse student body, while also bringing her own proven ideas for educational success to the table, will make her an ideal partner for our valued teaching staff and parents, thus ensuring that the high quality of Park Ridge education is preserved and enhanced, and in direct contrast to her opponent’s stated plan to slash funding for essential educational services, including cutting competitive salaries needed to retain the best personnel.
Ms. Fredrics has also promised to maintain Park Ridge schools as an independent district, and as welcoming and nurturing place for students from all walks of life, one where students are taught respect for one another. She believes that the Park Ridge system is one of the crown jewels of our town and a great attraction to families who move here. She is duly mindful of the fact that property values in Park Ridge are directly tied to the quality of our schools, and she is prepared to fight to defend that quality of education which we enjoy as a community, now and into the future.
This sort of rhetoric sounds mighty good!! However, there are many pressures which accompany these sort of offices, that even older members have trouble not succumbing to them!! AND; In the end one becomes complacent & the status quo remains same same.. But a good effort!!//