sayreville School Board Candidates Debate Policy, Budget, and Academic Goals at Town Hall

SAYREVILLE, NJ – Six candidates seeking election to the Sayreville Board of Education recently participated in a town hall, offering residents insight into their platforms on student safety, fiscal management, and academic success. Each candidate shared opening and closing statements, outlining their priorities for the district and its families.

Board President Lucille Bloom highlighted her experience and commitment to service. “I am currently serving as the president of the Board of Education. I am in my fourth term on the board,” she said. “I wanted to run for the Board of Education so that I could make a difference.”

Challenger Atef Ghaly said his campaign was about restoring community trust. “I believe our schools belong to our community, to our parents, our teachers, and most of all our children,” he said. “I’m running to restore transparency, rebuild the trust, and bring accountability back to the Board of Education.”

Educator Jacklyn Headlam described her approach as “purposeful impact,” explaining, “That means leadership that is intentional, equitable, and student-centered.” She said she hopes to “help reimagine policies that prioritize the whole child while supporting academic achievement and emotional well-being.”

Vice President of the School Board Jeff Smith reflected on his work and goals for continuity. “I originally ran for the Board of Education because I wanted to continue to drive change in this town,” he said. “I’m proud that in the past three years we have been fiscally responsible enough to not raise the school budget more than two percent a year.”

Candidate Jessica Vant emphasized her reputation for integrity and accountability. “I have developed a reputation of integrity and honesty,” she said. “I would put the needs of the children above my own for the community.”

Lifelong resident Kelly Wankmueller, a mother of five and advocate for special education, spoke about teamwork. “I see everyone working together—the board, the teachers, the parents—working together as a team,” she said.

To watch the full town hall, click here: (55) Sayreville Town Hall Meeting with BOE Candidates – October 15 2025 – YouTube

Policy 5756, Fiscal Matters, and Academic Performance

A significant portion of the discussion centered on Policy 5756, which addresses student gender identity and confidentiality. Headlam expressed her support, saying, “I stand firmly in support of New Jersey DOE Policy 5756.” Bloom added that the district “has no issues with that in this district” and clarified that “5756 has nothing to do with locker rooms or athletes.”

Smith explained that board members must uphold state law. “I can’t, nor will I ever pass a policy that violates state law in the state of New Jersey,” he said. Ghaly took a different position, pledging, “If I get elected, definitely I’m gonna vote to ban this policy.”

On fiscal issues, Wankmueller said, “I feel that there has been a lot of money spent without prioritizing where it really needs to be spent.” Vant questioned the district’s budget claims, asking, “Well, of course you stayed within budget, managed it well, because we had $97 million added from the referendum.”

When asked about student outcomes—only 39 percent meeting math standards—Smith said, “We need to make changes. We need to adapt, we need to adjust curriculums, we need to try new things because something isn’t working.” Vant added, “We cannot blame education on minority groups or underprivileged children.”

Candidate Closing Statements

In her closing remarks, Bloom addressed the limits of board power. “It’s easy to sit here and say, elect me, and I change everything, ladies and gentlemen. It doesn’t work that way,” she said. She added that rising property taxes are largely tied to “pilot programs that keep being approved in this district.”

Ghaly reaffirmed his fiscal priorities. “I will stand firmly for smart budgeting, cutting unnecessary spending, and protecting taxpayers from property tax increases,” he said. “If you want transparency in our schools, vote column two. If you want parents back in control, vote column two.”

Headlam said educators deserve a stronger voice in decision-making. “I feel that educators deserve a voice at the table,” she said. “We can face challenges not by doing more with less, but by doing better with what we have.”

Smith pointed to steady progress in curriculum and budgeting. “I want to continue on the path we’re on,” he said. “I think we’re seeing progress in the past three years in curriculum development, in test scores, and in fiscal responsibility.”

Vant encouraged civic participation. “To really make a change, you have to get involved,” she said. “I want to ensure that my children are getting the best education possible, and I’m not going to settle for less.”

Wankmueller closed by urging collaboration. “The board and parents have to come together,” she said. “We have to work together for the benefit of the kids. I think that a change would be good for the Board of Education—fresh eyes looking at everything.”

To stay up to date on what’s happening in Sayreville schools, check out the most recent edition of The Sayreville Insider newsletter: Sayreville Schools: Test Scores Under Fire, Bullying Stats Reviewed and More: What You Missed From The Sayreville Board of Education Meeting