Jamie Herr for Manalapan BOE

09/03/2026

We know many residents have questions and concerns after receiving their recent property tax bills. Those concerns are important, and our community deserves to have a clear understanding of what is driving these increases and how our district’s finances are managed.

I’m glad the Board will be holding an additional public presentation to provide residents another opportunity to better understand the district budget, tax levy, expenditures, and the financial challenges facing our schools.

I encourage residents to attend, ask questions, and be part of the conversation. An informed community is an engaged community.

On September 15, the MERS Board of Education and Administration will walk through the MERS budget in plain English:

- Where the money comes from
- Where it goes
- How the tax levy gets set and what’s pushing it up
- The financial pressures ahead and how we’re working to manage them while keeping our schools strong

The school district is the largest part of your property tax bill. You deserve a clear explanation of the district’s portion and how the numbers come together.

September 15 at 7:30 p.m.
MEMS Auditorium
155 Millhurst Road

Public comment will follow the presentation, so bring your questions. If you can’t make it, the presentation will be recorded and posted afterward.

08/29/2026

What should you expect from a Board member?

One answer, at least for me, is perspective.

For 19 years, I have called Manalapan my home. It is where I am raising my children, where they attended and graduated from MERS, and where I have had the privilege of serving our community for the past three years as a member of the Board of Education.

For those same 19 years, I have also been a New Jersey public school teacher. That experience shapes the way I approach my work on the Board. I understand schools not only as a parent and community member, but as an educator who sees every day how decisions about curriculum, staffing, programs, related services and resources ultimately make their way into classrooms and affect students.
That perspective has reinforced something I have always believed: students must remain at the center of the decisions we make.

But being student-first does not mean looking at decisions through only one lens. A strong Board member has to listen to parents, educators, administrators, and community members. We have to ask questions, understand the educational impact of our decisions, and recognize our responsibility to the taxpayers who make our schools possible.

And much of that work happens long before we take our seats at the dais at a public meeting.

A meeting may be where the public sees part of a discussion or a vote, but it is not necessarily where the work begins. Questions are asked, information is reviewed, conversations take place, and clarification is sought throughout the process. Sometimes the most important work of a Board member happens quietly; reading, researching, listening and making sure you understand what is in front of you before you are asked to make a decision.

Good governance is not measured by how visible the work is. It is measured by how thoughtfully and responsibly the work is done. The community should be able to trust that whether the work happens publicly or behind the scenes, Board members are approaching every decision with the interests of our students, faculty and staff, families, community and taxpayers in mind. That does not mean every decision will make everyone happy. Sometimes responsible leadership requires making difficult choices, knowing that not everyone will agree, while balancing individual concerns with what is best for the district as a whole. Our responsibility is to listen to every voice, but ultimately make decisions that serve the broader needs of all of our students and the community we represent.

My years in education have also taught me that there is rarely one person in the room with every answer. Good decisions come from listening, collaboration, thoughtful discussion and a willingness to learn from people whose experiences may be different from our own.

Three years of Board service have only strengthened that belief. Board members are entrusted with decisions that can have lasting effects on students, staff, families and the community. That responsibility deserves more than simply showing up for a vote. It requires doing the homework, asking the questions, understanding the impact and never losing sight of who our schools exist to serve.

Experience provides perspective. Listening provides understanding. And students provide the purpose.

That is what I believe you should expect from a Board member.

What would you add?

I am sharing these views in my personal capacity as a candidate and private citizen, not in my capacity as a Board member. They are my own and are not authorized by or representative of the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional Board of Education or any of its individual members.

Mirsad Capric for MERS Board of EducationKelly Lukacs for Manalapan BOE
Jenee Campo for Manalapan BOE

08/13/2026

Check out the latest referendum updates.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17eZi7tdDD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/12/2026

Meet the CORE Four: Mirsad Capric, Kelly Lukacs, Jenee Campo and me.

We are four current Board members, parents and active members of this community. Together, we bring experience in education, finance, strategy and community service, including through our Board of Education, school PTAs, local education foundations and youth sports.

You can learn more about each of them at their own pages (I encourage you to follow them, too!):
- Mirsad: Mirsad Capric for MERS Board of Education
- Kelly: lukacs for Manalapan BOE
- Jenee: Campo for Manalapan BOE

We each bring our own perspective and experience, united by a commitment to strong and safe schools, accountable spending and responsible leadership.

This November 3rd:

🗳️ 3-year term, vote for 3: Jamie Herr, Kelly Lukacs and Jenee Campo�
🗳️ 1-year term, vote for 1: Mirsad Capric

CORE Four: Collaboration. Opportunity. Responsibility. Experience.

As I’ve shared, I’m running this November to continue serving our community, our schools and our children. And I’m not running alone.

Meet the CORE Four: Jamie Herr, Kelly Lukacs, Jenee Campo and me.

We are four current Board members, parents and active members of this community. Together, we bring experience in education, finance, strategy and community service, including through our Board of Education, school PTAs, local education foundations and youth sports.

You can learn more about each of them at their own pages (I encourage you to follow them, too!):

- Kelly: Kelly Lukacs for Manalapan BOE
- Jamie: Jamie Herr for Manalapan BOE
- Jenee: Jenee Campo for Manalapan BOE

We each bring our own perspective and experience, united by a commitment to strong and safe schools, accountable spending and responsible leadership.

This November 3rd:

🗳️ 3-year term, vote for 3: Jamie Herr, Kelly Lukacs and Jenee Campo�
🗳️ 1-year term, vote for 1: Mirsad Capric

CORE Four: Collaboration. Opportunity. Responsibility. Experience.

08/05/2026

I have proudly called Manalapan home for the past 19 years. We chose to raise our family here because of the outstanding schools, and as the mother of three children who proudly attended and completed their education in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District - including one child who received related services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) - I have experienced firsthand the exceptional education, dedicated teachers, and supportive community that helped each of my children succeed.

Our journey wasn't without challenges. There were times when we had difficult conversations and differing perspectives, but through respectful advocacy, open communication, and collaboration, we were able to work together to find solutions that were in the best interests of my child. That experience strengthened my belief that the best outcomes are achieved when families and schools work as partners. Combined with my professional experience as an educator, it has given me a unique perspective that I bring to every decision I make as a member of the Board of Education. Those experiences inspired me to serve on the Board as a way of giving back to the district that gave so much to my family.

For the past 19 years, I have proudly served as a New Jersey public school educator and hold certifications in English, Special Education, and Elementary Education. I currently serve as a high school special education English teacher in the Freehold Regional High School District (FRHSD), the receiving district for our students. Working with students as they transition from MERS into high school gives me valuable insight into how the strong foundation built in our elementary and middle schools prepares them for future success. Each day I see firsthand the lasting impact that dedicated educators, strong academic programs, and collaborative partnerships have on student growth and achievement.

As both an educator and a former MERS parent, I understand our district from multiple perspectives, and I believe those experiences help me make informed, balanced decisions that always keep students at the center of every discussion. Since being elected to the Board of Education in 2023, I have remained committed to thoughtful, student-centered leadership while advocating for responsible budgeting, transparency, collaboration, and academic excellence. I believe every decision we make should reflect what is best for students while balancing fiscal responsibility.

During my time on the Board, I have been honored to serve as the Board's Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) Liaison, a member of the Negotiations Committee, and currently, the Strategic Planning Committee. These opportunities have allowed me to strengthen communication between families and the district, contribute to long-term planning, and help ensure that decisions are made with the best interests of our students, staff, and community in mind.

I believe our schools are strongest when we lead with transparency, respect, collaboration, and open communication. I am committed to listening to our residents, working collaboratively with my fellow Board members, district leadership, educators, and families, and making thoughtful decisions that preserve the excellence of our schools while preparing them for the future.

As I seek re-election, I remain committed to building on the progress we have made while continuing to make thoughtful decisions that strengthen our schools, support all students and staff, and preserve the trust our community places in its Board of Education.

I am proud to continue serving alongside the CORE Four, a team committed to Collaboration, Opportunity, Responsibility, and Experience. Together, we will continue leading responsibly, putting students first, and keeping Manalapan-Englishtown Regional schools strong for today's students and future generations.

Experience you can trust. Results you can see.

08/05/2026

Thank you for visiting my campaign page for re-election for the MERS BOE. Please review the posts below, and click “like” to stay updated. Please add your Manalapan Resident friends to the page.