“I have reached a point in my career where I have the time so I can give back to the community,” is one of the primary reasons why Kevin Ege is seeking his first term on the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education.
“I have a personal passion about school systems serving our children and leaving none behind,” he continued, to emphasize his interest in serving on the board.
Nor does Ege have any strong opinions on any issue under discussion, he explained, and promised to “have an open mind and make pragmatic decisions” once he is fully informed.
Ege is one of four Highlands residents seeking the two one-year terms open in Tuesday’s election. The three others seeking the two members voters can choose are Gena Melnyk, Allison Burel and Don Krueger.
The Virginia born resident, born and raised in the Virginia Beach area, graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in biochemistry and worked in the water treatment industry for nearly a decade. He then attended Wake Forest graduate school and turned to banking for his profession. He has been working in that field for the past 23 years.
Ege, who lives on Portland Rd and has been a Highlands resident for three years, said he is not a member of any clubs or organizations, preferring instead, to focus solely on his career . He and his wife, Elizabeth, have two grown children, a married daughter living in New York and a son nearing graduation from Marist College.
The family chose to live in Highlands because they were drawn to a community similar to their growing up years. After living in California, North Carolina Virginia and Glen Ridge, NJ they wanted to live by the beach once again after their children were grown. Ege’s primary hobby is surfing, a skill he has been enjoying for 45 years, and Highlands offered opportunities so he could continue to enjoy that, he said.
Although he has never run for any office before, Ege is drawn to serve on a board of education because he feels that it is the area in which he can best serve his community.
He has not attended any board meetings, candidly admits he is not aware of all the issues or reasons for opinions on any of the school matters under discussion, but will listen to everyone and gather as much information as available before making sensible and realistic decisions.
On the subject of regionalization with Sea Bright, Ege said that while he does not know all the details, “if it makes sense from a financial standpoint, children of Highlands and Atlantic Highlands can benefit and it’s the right decision for the Sea Bright children, I would be all for it. “
Looking at the overall picture on regionalization, Ege pointed out it is challenging since there are many nuances to understand in order to make an informed decision. He believes a community school can benefit from parental involvement, and said on the surface it appears the tension he has seen around regionalization and schools below peer schools are the major problems facing the district now citing how parental involvement could be beneficial.
” I need to understand the nuances around regionalization and the cost or benefit of staying involved in a legal fight concerning the Sea Bright issue, “Ege said. He pointed out as examples test scores, which typically are influenced by school administration (including teachers) and parent involvement. That can be pulled in by a sense of community and openness from the board and administration encouraging involvement, he explained. “School administration needs the right focus, namely our children as well as continued professional development for the front line teachers.”
