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Aderhold defends WW-P against viral ad campaign By Bill SAnseRVinO
West Windsor–Plainsboro Schools Superintendent David Aderhold has issued a scathing public response to what he described as a politically motivated campaign targeting the district’s performance and leadership. Aderhold’s 14-page statement was released in response to a statewide advertising campaign by Wake Up Call NJ, a self-
described nonprofit advocacy group that launched a multi-million-dollar effort in September focused on the WW-P and Montclair school districts. The organization, co-founded by philanthropist Laura Overdeck and former state Deputy Education Commissioner Peter Shulman, says its goal is to equip parents with facts and demand transparency. Meanwhile, Wake Up Call NJ co-founder Laura Overdeck,
maintained in letter responding to Aderhold that the campaign is not political and that Aderhold misunderstands its mission. In his statement, which was released to all families in the distroct, Aderhold said the district “welcomes transparency and dialogue and rejects the incomplete and incorrect narrative about student performance being promulgated by the politically motivated organization called Wake See DEFEND, Page 6
Two up for Plainsboro seat on WW-P Board of Education By Bill SAnseRVinO
WW-P High School South senior captain Meadow Boateng runs upfield during a recent match. Read about Boateng and the team on Page 14.
Plainsboro voters will decide one three-year seat on the West Windsor-Plainsboro School Board of Education in the Nov. 4 election. This year’s contest features incumbent Paul O’Brien against Hanif Payak. The News invited both candidates to respond to a series of questions on funding challenges, teacher recruitment, enrollment trends, student wellness, and com-
munity engagement. Their biographies followed by their unedited responses appear below. O’Brien has lived in Plainsboro for nearly three decades and was appointed to the Board of Education in July following a competitive public process. Since joining the board, O’Brien has served on the Finance Committee. He brings more than 30 years of experience in senior living, healthcare and real estate . He has led multi-million-dollar
Nationally ranked three years in a row.
rwjbh.org/childrenshealth
operations, consulted on publicservice housing initiatives and spoken nationally on sales strategy and service. O’Brien serves as president of the Northern Knights Marching Band Boosters and previously helped found the Plainsboro Business Partnership and served on Plainsboro’s Human Relations Council. His wife, Denise, has been active in the Girl Scouts community for more than a decade. See ELECTION , Page 10
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