NEWARK, NJ — Voters will go to the polls Tuesday, April 19, to elect three candidates to the Newark Public Schools District Board of Education and decide on a public question for the 2022-23 school year budget.
Coming into this year's election, the candidates on the ballot are aiming to address a number of issues facing Newark schools, including learning loss spurred by the coronavirus pandemic and how officials will address students’ social-emotional health.
Here's what voters need to know for the upcoming election.
When do the polls open?
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The last day to apply by mail for a mail-in ballot is April 12. Registered voters can go in-person at their regular polling locations.
Where is my polling location?
To find your polling location, visit the Essex County Board of Elections website here or call 973-621-5070.
Who is running for the school board?
Seven candidates will be running for three seats for 3-year terms on the board.
Here are the candidates in the order they will appear on the ballot: Thomas Luna, Maggie Freeman, Phillip Wilson, A’Dorian Murray-Thomas (incumbent), Daniel Gonzalez (incumbent), Crystal Williams, and Allison K. James-Frison.
Three candidates are running together on the Moving Newark Schools Forward Ticket, backed by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka: Murray-Thomas; Gonzalez; and Williams.
To learn more background information about each of the seven candidates on the ballot, visit TAPinto Newark's "Meet the Candidates" post here.
What will I be voting on concerning the school budget?
The public question on the ballot is asking Newark voters to approve or reject the district’s $138.3 million total local tax levy proposed in the 2022-23 school year budget, to be paid by Newark taxpayers. The proposed tax levy remains flat from the 2021-22 school budget.
Approval for the coming year’s budget depends on a “yes” vote from the public during the school board elections.
To learn more about the 2022-23 school year budget, visit TAPinto Newark's "Key Takeaways" story on this year's budget hearing here.
Here's a sample ballot for the Newark Public Schools District Board of Education Election:
