Walker Looks to Complete BOE Work

Board of Education Vice President Julia Walker is seeking reelection to the BOE in order to continue work on several projects.

Walker, who announced her reelection bid last week, identified growing student enrollment at Westfield High School as a top concern of hers in a new term. She said the enrollment projections of 2,000 students at the high school will cause changes in how to address the growth.

"I am very interested in how the high school will evolve and change with the student population going up," she said.

Walker said the bond initiative passed in 2001-2002 funded the expansion which provides the space for the increasing WHS enrollment, but there are non space issues which need to be addressed. The areas she identified include curriculum, extracurricular activities and mentorship programs.

She said she would like to start a partnership between parents and school administrators in order to start addressing these issues. In the area of curriculum, Walker said there may be a need for additional academic offerings for the growing population. She said she is not sure which classes would need to be offered, noting that more data will need to be collected in order to identify the needs and interests of an increasing population.

In terms of extracurricular activities, Walker spoke of the need to create smaller environments for students in a larger school environment, with potentially more clubs. Citing the current budget restraints, she said she'd want to determine interest areas and also alternative sources of funding for new clubs and sports.

In addition to the smaller groups, Walker said a mentor program is needed for WHS students to help provide the chance for students to connect with an adult in the building. Her thoughts on this issue are in line with a program high school principal Peter Renwick has been pushing.

Walker stressed that she does not think she is the only person who can address what needs to be done.

"I don't know what the answers are," she said. "I want to be a part of that process."

Walker was first elected to the school board in 2003 to serve a one year unexpired term. She was reelected unopposed in 2004 and 2007 for three year terms. She identified several accomplishments during her time on the board. These include the opening of the Lincoln School Early Childhood Learning Center, passed a bond issue for a new track at Kehler Stadium, maintaining low class sizes and establishing a strong working relationship between the school board and Town Council.

Walker presents chairs the board's finance committee and noted that budget issues are a concern. Gov. Chris Christie in state aid from the current school budget, based on surplus numbers, and is likely to make more state aid cuts when he announces his state budget plan later this month. Walker said the governor's cut is going to have a greater impact on the next budget, since the board traditionally uses surplus funds to defer tax hikes in future budgets.

She said the board will be spending March determining a spending plan to propose to voters, looking to fund academic priorities. During the last Board of Education meeting, she noted that the spending plan could face cuts from past years depending on what Christie announces.

Walker and her husband, Jon, are the parents of two children in the public schools. A native of Lexington, KY, she is a non-practicing attorney.

Walker is one of five candidates for three seats on the Board of Education in the April 20 election. She faces fellow incumbents Ginny Leiz and Richard Solomon, along with newcomers Susan Conover and Mitch Slater. The budget plan will also be on the ballot at the same time. Board members serve three year terms and are not compensated.