Sunday, November 9, 2025
District 24 residents can vote for either Jennifer Marlborough or Annette Matthew for Board of Education trustee. Incumbents Markus Wilson and John Maier are running unopposed. Voting is on May 20
The Herald asked Marlborough and Matthew three questions, focusing on long-term facility modernization, expanding inclusive support for diverse learners and improving the quality and safety of school meals.
Q: How will you ensure that the district’s investment in innovative classroom redesigns — including advanced technology and flexible learning layouts — truly enhances student learning and doesn’t become obsolete or underused over time?
Marlborough: I’ll tackle innovative redesigns through collaboration and community engagement while being mindful of costs to mitigate tax increases. I will work with BOE members to create a Facilities Task Force, which would include a diverse group of stakeholders such as educators, parents, and residents. Before embarking on the redesigns, we must determine our goals, using them as our guide; all redesigns should support active learning, collaboration, differentiated instruction, and digital literacy. Through surveys and roundtables, we need to ensure that teachers’ and students’ needs shape the redesigns, incorporating scalable technology and modular furniture that align with educational goals.
Moreover, we should use student engagement data to refine plans. To prevent obsolescence, all changes must be driven by instructional goals rather than trends, and the technology must be durable and upgradeable. We must also consider how the rooms will be used and ensure that they are adaptable and universal enough so that they can be modified with the changing needs of our students, without additional costs. To mitigate tax increases, we should seek grants, state funding, and local business partnerships to support projects and choose energy-efficient materials to lower long-term expenses.
Matthew: Brooklyn Avenue School was built back in 1922, so this issue really hits home for me. Making sure our kids have access to modern classrooms and technology is something I care deeply about — it’s one of the main reasons I’m running. One of my top priorities is digital literacy, which means helping students learn how to think critically and use technology in smart, safe, and meaningful ways — a skill that’s more important than ever with AI becoming part of everyday life. To support that, we need up-to-date tools and flexible learning spaces that actually work for students and teachers.
I’ve been a strong advocate for this because of my own experience, and I’m proud that District 24 has already started moving in this direction. At Brooklyn Avenue, the district has begun rolling out modern, collaborative classroom setups in a few rooms — it’s a great start. But keeping things current takes more than just a one-time investment. We need a plan to regularly review what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to be upgraded.
As a board member, I’d push for regular school visits and even a committee that checks in yearly to make sure our investments are really helping kids learn. We can also be creative by partnering with companies that upgrade their tech frequently — many are happy to donate gently used equipment instead of tossing it. It’s
Q: With a growing population of English Language Learners and students requiring special education services, how would you ensure all students receive equitable support and the district retains qualified staff?
Marlborough: I champion equitable support for diverse learners, including English Language Learners (ELLs) and students with special education needs, while retaining top talent. Collaborating with the BOE, Office of Pupil Services, and the Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA), I’ll form an Inclusion Task Force to assess what’s needed to provide equitable support to these students. Using that data, we would work to provide resources, such as bilingual aides and tailored curricula. SEPTA’s insights will guide family engagement and staff training, fostering inclusive classrooms.
To attract and retain qualified staff without raising taxes, I’ll advocate for competitive salaries, a supportive work environment, and professional development. Partnering with Districts 13, 30 and VSCHSD, we would offer workshops on differentiated instruction and special education and ELL innovations and strategies, enhancing teacher skills cost-effectively. Grant-funded after-school and summer school programs (like extended year) can close learning gaps for ELLs and special education students, ensuring that they retain their skills.
Community input via surveys and SEPTA collaboration will ensure transparency and trust. Mental health resources will further support equity. By prioritizing collaboration, fiscal responsibility, and innovative programs, I’ll ensure District 24 delivers inclusive education, empowers diverse learners, and retains exceptional educators, while mitigating tax increases.
Matthew: With a growing population of English Language Learners and students requiring special education services, how would you ensure all students receive equitable support and the district retains qualified staff?
When it comes to English Language Learners, I believe our district has done a solid job helping students reach the right language level, pass the necessary exams, and transition into general education classes. I personally know a few of our ELL teachers — they’re incredibly dedicated and truly exceptional at what they do.
On the Special Education side, the district has been working to bring more of these services back into our own schools rather than outsourcing them. This not only saves money but also allows students to grow up alongside their neighbors, in their own communities. I think this is a great step forward. The district is moving in the right direction, and with a little patience, we’ll start seeing the full impact of these efforts.
To make sure we retain high-quality staff, we have to invest in them — that means better training, competitive pay, and real support, especially for those working with students who have additional learning needs. These are incredibly demanding roles, and we need to recognize the value of that work.
Finally, I’d love to see us revisit our hiring process. We should be casting a wider net when looking for talent and making the process more collaborative — including input from families who rely on ELL and special education services. After all, they know best what their children need.
Q: What steps would you take to improve the overall quality, nutritional value, and safety of school lunches and how would you ensure that students receive healthy, appealing meals every day?
Marlborough: This has long been a concern in the district. Access to nutritious, satisfying meals is vital for children’s success and well-being. VS24 currently provides free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision, and the recent New York State Budget provides funds for all districts to provide free meals starting September 2025. Students and parents agree that the current offerings are unsatisfactory and unappetizing.
In fact, many children throw out the provided lunch. What is the point of a free lunch if the students won’t eat it? When asked, the Superintendent informed parents that the district is currently required to contract with the food vendor with the lowest bid. A further complication is that our schools do not have full kitchens.
We need to be creative and collaborate with district leaders to refine the bidding process and select vendors who provide high-quality meals at competitive prices, and secure grants to fund them. To celebrate diversity in our schools, we should partner with local businesses and leaders to donate affordable cultural dishes a few times a year to enrich students’ experiences. By optimizing bidding, leveraging grants, and utilizing local partnerships, I will work collaboratively to deliver delicious and nutritious meals.
Matthew: Improving school lunches are something parents bring up every year — and for good reason. One of the biggest challenges we face in District 24 is that many of our schools don’t have full kitchens/ovens to cook fresh food. That means we rely heavily on pre-cooked, frozen meals that are simply reheated on-site. While the meals meet basic nutritional standards, the quality and taste can sometimes fall short — and let’s be honest, if the food doesn’t taste good, the kids won’t eat it.
That said, I do think the district has made efforts to offer variety and meet the needs of our diverse community — with options like vegetarian lunches for vegan, halal, and kosher students. That’s a strong foundation to build on.
We’ve also done food tastings with students in the past, which I think is a great idea.
I’d love to bring that back across all three school buildings so we can really hear from the kids about what they like — and what they don’t. From there, we can work with our current vendor to stick with the favorites that students actually enjoy.
Longer term, we should take a close look at whether we’re getting the best bang for our buck. That might mean revisiting our food vendors, revisiting the bidding process, and exploring new alternatives that provide both better taste and better nutrition — all while keeping student safety and dietary needs front and center.
