individuals are running on two slates with one incumbent in the mix. The candidates bring a variety of experiences and views to the campaign. Below, in no particular order, are the candidate statements that the two slates have provided. For reasons of length, responses to two optional questions posed to the candidates will be released as separate articles later this week. Cedar Grove News has neither vetted nor endorsed any of the statements below.
Nicole DiChiara and Haley Grieco
Nicole DiChiara and Haley Grieco are Cedar Grove residents and parents and are running for the Cedar Grove Board of Education (BOE) this November 2021. Together we have a vision to continue to move Cedar Grove Forward! As we transition out of an unprecedented time that has spanned the last three school years, we are committed to moving the district FORWARD to a bright future for all students.
This forward motion is not a one-size fits all solution, but rather a comprehensive plan built to support everyone. Our students have faced challenges never before contemplated and have made their way through with grace and strength. We owe them a duty of support, and we will continue the work of the current BOE by bringing those desperately needed services to them. While we can hold on to beloved traditions, we must also create new and relevant traditions that will help our students achieve their dreams, whatever they may be.
This work has been started in examples as: AP class expansion, PADE dual enrollment with Montclair University, allowing our students to challenge themselves with the “level up” program for all honors and AP courses, and the implementation of DECA and STEAM Pathways. We will arm our students with the tools for success while providing a superior educational foundation.
Cedar Grove has had an influx of students over the last several years. Several times in the history of Cedar Grove, past BOEs have reduced or expanded the school buildings based on the changing needs of the town. We are here again. The Middle School, North End School, and South End School have all reached their capacity. There is a plan in place to renovate a legacy -LRP School- and open that to fourth and fifth grade. A lot of planning has already gone into this proposal, but this is a big endeavour and more work is to be done. It is imperative that this be given priority as it affects every single elementary child presently enrolled, as well as every single child who will enroll in our elementary schools in the coming years. We are committed to putting in the work necessary to provide the best learning environment for ALL students - and the time is NOW for action!
As parents, we understand the importance of communication. A major part of our vision is to make sure there is a seamless bridge between home and school. Every stakeholder must be involved in our students’ education. Our campaign is committed to expanding communication formats so that all residents and parents can have access to all of the information from the BOE. Be sure to review and comment on our “What’s it Mean to You?” document and our “Did You Know?” slides on our social media pages.
Visit our website and SM pages to learn more about the initiatives we have and give us feedback. Sign up for our newsletter, volunteer, and donate!
(ed. Note, links are not endorsements)
https://facebook.com/dichiaragrieco/
https://instagram.com/cgforward
(ed. the bio statements for Nicole DiChiara and Haley Grieco added 9/15/2021 at the request of the candidates and in compliance with our candidate statement policies)
Nicole DiChiara
Nicole has lived in Cedar Grove since 2005 with her husband Michael who grew up in North Caldwell. They have two children who have attended the Cedar Grove public schools since kindergarten and are currently enrolled at Memorial Middle School and Cedar Grove High School. Nicole can be found cheering on both children on the football and lacrosse fields.
Nicole has a long history of volunteerism within Cedar Grove Schools, chairing multiple North End and MMS FSA committees as well as sitting on each board as Treasurer and Recording Secretary, respectively. In addition, she has been coaching the Cedar Grove girl’s youth lacrosse team since 2015 and will continue for many years to come.
Nicole brings over 25 years of Healthcare IT project management skills to the CG BOE and in September will be entering her fifth year as a paraprofessional in the Caldwell/West Caldwell School District. Nicole has been a member of the CG BOE since March 2017. As a result of her service, Nicole already has a full understanding of the complex workings and responsibilities of a NJ BOE member. She is looking forward to serving the community for another term.
Haley K. Grieco
Haley grew up in Cedar Grove and was educated in the schools from South End through Cedar Grove High School. Following high school she received her undergraduate degree from New York University and then later her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.
Her and her husband, also raised in CG and a long time former member of the Cedar Grove Ambulance and Rescue Squad, met in school and eventually married. They decided to move back to Cedar Grove to raise and educate their daughter in the place they know and love. Their daughter is now in second grade at South End. This is her fifth year in South End because she was lucky enough to be able to attend the first two years of the new preschool program in CG.
Haley brings a passion for education and a love of Cedar Grove to the Board of Education. Her decade long career as a trial attorney has developed and sharpened her ability to identify, analyze, and resolve potential issues and succinctly and concisely ask tough questions. These skills will serve her well as she helps the CG BOE advance education for all CG students.
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Dawn Daura and Lou Marzullo
Dawn Daura
Education this November. I have been in education for 29 years as a Special Education classroom teacher, Child Study Team Learning Consultant, and currently the Director of Special Services. I hold two Masters degrees, one in Special Education and one in Educational Leadership, along with a Chief School Administrator (Superintendent) Certification.
I have extensive knowledge and experience in school administration, special education, budget and policy development, curriculum writing, staff professional development, grant writing, and referendums. I also have successfully led a district through the unique challenges forced upon us by the pandemic through ongoing collaboration with fellow administrators, Board of Education members, staff, students, and community members.
In 2010, my wife Gail and I moved into town with our 3 sons. We were instantly welcomed and accepted into the community. Fast forward, we now have 2 juniors in high school and a 6th grader at the middle school. As our children have grown, I have remained actively involved in the community and school district. Whether it has been through volunteering as a class mom, speaking at TREP$ workshops, sitting on principal roundtables, coaching youth sports or being a lacrosse booster club board member, I have been committed to supporting the growth and development of our community.
During these past 11 years, my family and I have established strong community roots. We have developed friendships throughout the community and have created a life for our family. Over recent years, I have become increasingly concerned about our declining school rankings and our success with producing college and career ready students upon graduation. For these reasons, I have set out in search of a solution, which ultimately has led to my decision to run for the board of education.
Lou Marzullo
My name is Lou Marzullo and I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the Cedar Grove Board of Education. I hold a MA degree in Health and Physical Education and will be entering my 22nd year in Education at a secondary high school. Besides my extensive teaching duties, I have sat on numerous school committees and served as a department liaison, whose responsibilities included a principal search, QSAC (i.e., NJ DOE’s monitoring and evaluating system), the national honor society, curriculum revision, and graduation.
Additionally, I am the owner of Cedar Grove based Primo Driving School for the past 18 years. In that time, I have had the opportunity to serve countless numbers of outstanding Cedar Grove students and their families as well as form new and lasting relationships with residents throughout the district.
When I was a young child, my parents decided to move to Cedar Grove from Montclair largely because they valued the small close-knit community and its good school systems. It was for those same reasons that my wife Michele and I chose to raise our two sons, Leo and Marco, in this small yet growing suburban town. I have devoted myself to serving the community by coaching various youth sports, serving as a member of the recreation board advisory committee, and supporting multiple clubs, activities, and organizations dedicated to the students of Cedar Grove.
As a lifelong resident, I can’t recall a time where so many residents have been unsettled by the direction of their children’s education and divided in conversations with each other and the district. My first goal as a member on the board of education would be to help repair any divide and work to bridge the relationship between the school system and the community.
