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I am an IT professional with many years collecting and evaluating key performance indicators for a major telecommunications company. This required close collaboration with many talented engineers and directors nationally.
My resume may be viewed on my Linkedin page. Note: There are two people with similar names. I am NOT the film producer.
The abrupt increase in the school tax assessment in the last two quarters is a systemic shock to every family. The harm done to young families and people on fixed incomes is unsupportable. The impact extends beyond the taxpayer. My $1,500 additional assessment is money that will not find its way to local retailers this holiday season.
I would have voted AGAINST this levy, not just because of the ungodly increase demanded but because the citizens were not asked. The district bullied its way to the head of the line and left the rest of us to figure how we would make ends meet. This was wrong.
At a recent Board meeting the Superintendent stated that we have sufficient funds to go yet another year without a tax levy increase. There is talk of escrowing that ‘surplus’ money against future needs. I am staunchly opposed to the district escrowing our money. The district is not our bank or mortgage company, and an unattended honey pot is a temptation for additional spending which of course would only compound future budget woes. In two years, the current NJ State funding scheme could change radically, hopefully for the better. We can revisit funding requirements and options at that time. Until then I’ll vote to keep our money in our pockets. No additional tax. Taxpayers and families need a break.
Nothing better prepares our children for success than reading, math and critical thinking skills. Our performance scores could be much better. A simple idea would be to meet with school boards and curriculum directors at districts that over-perform our own to uncover any tweaks that we might easily emulate. I would support initiates that advance that process.
I will be an active Board member, initiating conversations with teachers, parents and administrators in every school and at every grade level. I will encourage consults with districts that outperform our own. Collaboration with all stakeholders is the key to creating a successful school community in Hillsborough.
As a class of 2025 graduate, with a number of good friends still in the Hillsborough school system, I believe I am uniquely in touch with the problems our schools face, as well as how to deal with them. I am also an Eagle Scout, and was the Senior Patrol Leader (Essentially President) of my Troop, which has given me the leadership and organizational skills that are crucial to Board membership. Finally, I am currently studying education at Raritan Valley Community College, in the hopes of becoming a high school history teacher. Being on the path to an education degree is an obvious asset in making sure our children's education runs smoothly.
I believe that the outbreak of violence and physical altercations are easily the greatest challenge Hillsborough schools face right now. During my junior year, there was a single day where there was upwards of five separate fights. I speak from experience when I say that a large number of our student body does not feel safe when they roam the halls. The constant threat of physical harm is the greatest detriment to a child's education, and must be dealt with accordingly. Our schools have already made great strides in increasing security presence since I graduated, but we have still not totally defeated this epidemic in its entirety. We must continue to combat it with an even greater security presence, as well as more regular patrolling of hallways.
Mental health is absolutely the most important factor in a students success. A student cannot learn and be equipped to be a functioning member of society if they're having suicidal thoughts. Our nation's children are undergoing a mental health crisis, and it has greatly hindered their ability to be properly educated. I would address this by calling for increased counseling staff and screenings, and well as a generally more proactive approach to mental health. Many of our students suffer in silence, and won't ask for help unless prompted and reassured that we're there for them.
Administrative transparency is actually one of the key points of my platform, which can be viewed fully on my campaign website. Many emails go unanswered in a timely matter, if at all. In calling for increased transparency in hiring practices and response timeline standards for the administrators of our school, it would be hypocritical of me not to respond to the concerns of Hillsborough parents in a timely manner. I can assure any Hillsborough parent that if you email me at johnfluet@gmail.com, you will receive a concise and detailed response, with an eagerness to answer any follow-up questions, at my first availability.
In 2024, I ran for the Board of Education for the first time. I’ve attended BOE meetings for over a year now, but it’s been my conversations with parents, teachers, students, and concerned residents that have taught me the most. Meeting directly with people has given me a fresh perspective on the challenges our schools face, and the issues our community cares about.
I am a lifelong Hillsborough resident and graduate of our school system. Hillsborough will always be my home. I realize both the importance of high-quality education, and the economic impact BOE decisions have on Hillsborough families.
My 13 years in Hillsborough schools have shown me firsthand what it takes to succeed as a student. I understand the modern challenges of education, including adjusting to new tools like AI.
My professional experiences also strengthen my perspective. I have 5 years of experience as a teaching assistant, and this past summer, I interned in the Planning and Zoning Department at the Hillsborough Municipal Building, where I gained valuable insight into how local government works.
Overcrowding in schools prevents Hillsborough students from receiving the quality of education they deserve. Growing class sizes mean students receive less individual attention, while teachers may struggle to manage their classrooms effectively. Worse, it can lead to an increased rate of bullying and fights— especially in crammed, congested hallways.
The clear solution here is to hire additional staff, opening up more classrooms to reduce class sizes overall, and increase student supervision. While cost restraints make this difficult to implement, ensuring adequate staffing must be the priority within our existing budget.
Overcrowding, however, brings another urgent problem: rising harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) cases. Addressing HIB cases is cost-effective and essential. It means treating HIB cases with the seriousness they demand, prioritizing concerns raised by teachers and staff about student behavior, and encouraging students to advocate for their peers in need. Doing so will foster a safer and more supportive environment in Hillsborough Schools, allowing students to thrive both academically and mentally.
Schools play a vital role in preparing students for life after graduation—whether that means college, trade school, or another path. In high school, this requires access to diverse and challenging courses that encourage students to explore their interests. In younger grades, it means building the essential skills to learn effectively.
At every level, it's support from educators that makes student success possible. Many students—especially in elementary school—benefit from one-on-one attention from teachers, which is only possible through manageable class sizes and the right resources. Beyond working to reduce the student-teacher ratio, we must ensure teachers have the tools they need to best support their students. Educator feedback must guide decisions so every dollar is spent effectively, and directly benefits the students.
The role of schools is, above all else, academic. That means the budget must prioritize classroom learning first. This doesn’t take away from the value of extracurriculars and athletics: I know firsthand how programs like sports, clubs, and honor societies can inspire students’ passions and future careers. However, the foundation of student learning—academic success—must be supported before anything else.
Regular town halls and public forums are both key components in creating open communication between the Board and the Hillsborough community. With that being said, in-person meetings may be inconvenient for busy parents and others concerned with education. The public deserves to feel comfortable communicating with the Board of Ed—which is why we must take advantage of accessible digital platforms like email and social media.
I am committed to building trust through open and honest communication. Every email and message I received last year was answered, and that will not change moving forward in this campaign.
My inbox is always open, and I will never shy away from even the toughest conversations. I strongly believe in the importance of listening, even when we disagree.
I will always be willing to learn others’ perspectives and have a conversation– this I promise.
Please email me anytime at hameedforboe@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. Your voice matters.
My professional experience includes working in the private sector in the IT field. I have worked for both public and private companies in various roles. One of those roles included support, which involves being well versed with communication. Coming from a technology background, I bring forth experience with a technical perspective, and try to tackle issues as pragmatically as possible.
I am also an incumbent running for my second term. I believe the experiences of having worked on the inside will help me better serve the district and community moving forward now that I have the additional insight of having served a term.
Overcrowding / redistricting remains in the forefront of issues that we as a district are tackling. Certain schools are bursting at the seams while other schools have enough capacity to take on extra students. Once we have determined the regions and which school each student of their respective region will be attending, this should help alleviate some of the overcrowding that has been caused by the increase in building in our district. As we move towards better teacher-student ratio, that can only help set up each student for success at their respective school.
Academic achievement remains a priority, and with some of the headlines stating that graduation readiness rates have decreased, it is definitely something that needs to be addressed. That said, this issue needs to be addressed prior to the testing that leads to these results, so the real work needs to come in the students' formative years. That means ensuring that classrooms in the lower grades are sufficniently supplied, and that the teacher/student ratio is at an acceptable level. Looping back to redistricting, this is an area where redistricting could have a beneficial effect, as avoiding overcrowding will help the district as a whole.
The most important factor for student success is to ensure that the students have the resources that they need for their education. That is the short and simple answer, but what are those resources?
Funding is always one, and is something that many districts that struggle with. The Board, including myself, have taken advantage of the state Tax Incentive Aid to ensure that the schools will be properly funded for 1) the next school year 2) hedges against losses that may occur over the next few years because of the current state funding formula.
Another factor for student success is making sure that mental health is addressed, and the district has been diligent in making sure that we have sufficient counselors in place to address the students' needs.
Security and safety is also important for student success, as if the students do not believe they are in a safe environment, they cannot thrive and learn to the best of their ability.
Since the start of my first term, there has been numerous attempts to communicate and interact with the community. We have been more proactive on social media, and the district has a public facing site to keep all stakeholders in the loop with regards to when meetings are as well as all of the activites taking place within the district.
We have also substituted some of our board meetings with a Community Engagement Night, which allows for the community to attend and have conversations with the superintendent and the board. We hope that this is the start of fostering communication and trust with the community, and as we hold more of these I believe the additional conversations can help build trust in the district. It also allows us to listen directly to the parents' concerns to make sure that nothing gets missed.
In short, better use of social media as well as having Community Engagement Night through the school year has helped with outreach and allows us to communicate with parents
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