Dear Neighbor,

I'm writing to you directly because you're one of the people in Englewood who shows up to vote, election after election, whether the race makes headlines or not. So, I'll get right to it.

My name is Ignacio Acosta-Thompson. I'm running for the Englewood Public School District Board of Education. Here is why.

I come from a family of public servants and educators. My relatives served as council members in our home country, and teaching runs through my family the same way. I was raised to believe two things: you step up when your community needs you, and nothing changes a child's life like a good education.

I grew up in the area, went to public schools, and took buses in the Fourth and Third Wards. One of my first jobs was at a tutoring center on Palisade Avenue, right here in Englewood, helping kids get their footing in reading and math. I've worked warehouse jobs too. I know what a dollar costs to earn, and I know what a good teacher can do with a kid who just needs someone in their corner. I moved away for my career, and I came back on purpose. My wife and I are raising three young children here. We own our home in the First Ward. We plan to be here for the long haul.

Our schools are at crossroad once again, through little control of our own. While the board recently appointed an interim superintendent to bring stability, this is the sixth leader in the last ten years. That kind of turnover at the top is hard on any district. And this spring’s adopted budget raised the school tax levy 5.7 percent, well above the state's normal 2 percent cap, while cutting 54 staff positions from our schools. Think about that. We are paying more, yet our kids' schools are getting less. Some of the pressures behind that budget are real and come from outside the district's control, like lost state aid and health benefit costs that jumped by nearly a third. Some deserve a much harder look. Knowing the difference is a skill, and it's the skill I've built my career on.

I'm a Certified Public Accountant, with over 15 years of experience. Early in my career I audited one of the 5 largest school districts in New Jersey, with an almost $1 billion budget. I know how school finances are supposed to work. I know the obstacles administrations face in getting things right, because I've seen them from the inside. And I know what questions to ask before small issues become big ones. Or in our case, what to ask as we fix big issues.

On that point, I want to be clear about something: I'm running to add a skill set to the table that this moment demands. The people on our board right now care about this district and are working to steady it. My goal is to enhance and elevate our school district’s efforts to meet the needs of our community.

Because here is what I believe: our public schools are the crown jewels of this town. Englewood invests real money in its schools, and every dollar of it belongs to the students. Watching the budget and fighting for students are not two different jobs. They are the same job done right.

If you send me to the board, here is what you can expect:

⦁ Money that reaches the classroom. I will follow every dollar from your tax bill to the student it's supposed to serve, and insist on clear goals and honest reporting so we all know whether it's working.

⦁ Steady hands for a big decision. Hiring and guiding the next superintendent is the most important thing this board will do. I'll bring experience and a level head to it.

⦁ Answers, not just paperwork. Posting documents online is not the same as accountability. You deserve a board that can explain, in plain language, why taxes went up while positions were cut, and what the plan is to rein things in.

This November, the school board race will be near the bottom of your ballot, in the nonpartisan section. It's easy to miss. I'm asking you to look for my name, to vote, and if you think this board could use a numbers guy who started out tutoring kids on Palisade Avenue, mention me to a neighbor or two.

You can reach me at 201-981-9994 or voteacostathompson@gmail.com. I hope to knock on your door this fall.

With respect,

Ignacio Acosta-Thompson, CPA