Education Monthly

Accolades for Students, School Safety on BOE's April Agenda

Also, mark these important May school dates in your calendar. What else did you miss this month? Let BOE Member Brandon Pugh fill you in.

April may not have been as busy as previous months for the board of education or within the school district, due to spring break, but nevertheless several important actions took place, including recognition of outstanding student achievement and approval of the senior class trip. At the April 16 meeting, the board had the pleasure of recognizing many students who stood out during the month. William Allen Middle School students were recognized for participating in and receiving distinctions through the Coriell Science Fair and the New Jersey Math League Competition. Also, South Valley students were recognized for their fantastic writing through the New Jersey Association of Gifted Children. I would like to personally congratulate these …

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Education Monthly

School Budget, 'Academy of Excellence' on BOE's Agenda This Month

What's the Moorestown School District been up to this month? Let Board Member Brandon Pugh fill you in.

March was the busiest month of the year so far for the board of education and for the district, with the start of a new program, many events, and the finalization of the annual budget. One of the most important tasks undertaken by the board was the 2013-2014 budget. During the month, the board presented the budget several times and heard from a handful of residents voicing their opinion and recommendations on it. I would like to thank each resident who came to the board’s budget meetings and those who reached out to the board during the month. Earlier this week, the board approved the budget, which includes a small tax increase. Personally speaking, before the next budget cycle I believe increased focus should be put on finding …

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Small Tax Increase Approved for '13-14 School Budget

The board voted 7-1 to approve the budget, and the sole dissenter says they can do more to bring taxes down.

Moorestown taxpayers will experience a 1.61 percent tax increase based on the tentative budget approved Tuesday by the board of education.  The $67.6 million budget ($61.5 million in the general fund; $5 million in debt service) includes a $1.07 million increase in the general fund tax levy—which is right at the 2 percent cap—and a $133,913 (or 2.83 percent) decrease in the debt service levy.  Assuming the budget doesn't change, a homeowner assessed at the township average ($445,716) would see their taxes go up $107.97.  The budget passed 7-1 Tuesday night, with Board Member Brandon Pugh providing the only "no" vote. Pugh said it was no secret he was opposed to any kind of tax increase from the start. "I said I would entertain a tax …

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Education Monthly

BOE Preps '13 Budget, Addresses School Safety

Moorestown School Board Member Brandon Pugh provides updates and information on several topics, including March events and a change to district employees' health plan.

It is a pleasure to be able to post my second Education Monthly column. On the last Friday of each month this column will be posted, recapping important updates in the school district and the board of education during the month. During the month of February, there were many important occurrences in the school district and with the board of education. At the Feb. 26 board meeting, three main topics were brought up. First, residents, teachers and parents voiced concerns over rumors around town surrounding the possible outsourcing of paraprofessionals. In addition at the meeting, the board voted in favor of changing employee health plan to Aetna through June 30, 2014, which brings savings to the district. The third key topic was board …

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Education Monthly

New Columnist, BOE Member Shares Updates, Info

Board Member Brandon Pugh highlights district news and notes in his new column, including school promotions and academic awards.

I am very excited to be able to post my first Education Monthly column. This column will be posted the last Friday of each month, highlighting key updates in the school district and the Board of Education during the month.  The month of January was busy for the school district and the Board of Education. As students were returning to school after the winter break, the board held its yearly reorganization meeting. David Weinstein, Sheryl Sawin and I were sworn in as board members, and will serve until January 2016. During this meeting, required appointments were made and necessary items for the year were voted on.  In addition, at the Jan. 22 meeting, there were two significant personnel changes made. Carole Butler, the former William Allen…

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New BOE Members, Including Moorestown's Youngest Ever, Take Office

“Brandon never ceases to amaze me,” says the father of the board's youngest-ever member.

When most kids were still playing video games and building forts, Brandon Pugh was already thinking about his political future. Pugh, 20, was sworn in Thursday as one of the newest members of the Moorestown Board of Education, along with Sheryl Sawin and David Weinstein—officially making him the youngest board member Moorestown’s ever had, and certainly one of the youngest in the state. It came as no surprise to his father, Sgt. Randy Pugh, of the Moorestown Police Department, who always expected great things from his son. “Brandon never ceases to amaze me,” he said, explaining how his son had an interest in politics from an early age. “I knew when he was very young, 7 or 8 years old … He was always more adult-like.” Thursday’s …

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Jeff Roth

7:12 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013

As someone who has both rented and owned in town, when you write a big check for property taxes you're not necessarily more qualified but you do have a more vested interest in the community. Same argument can be applied to having kids in the school system imo.   more ›

Letters to the Editor

BOE's Youngest Member-Elect Ready to Get to Work

Newly elected Board Member Brandon Pugh vows to keep the community in the loop on what's going on in the school district with a monthly column on Moorestown Patch.

To the editor: With the official election results less than a week old, I would like to convey my deepest appreciation for my election to the Moorestown Board of Education. I am honored to have been elected and I look forward to serving come January. In addition, I would like to thank everyone who supported me. Furthermore, I would like to congratulate both David Weinstein and Sheryl Sawin for being elected as well, and to all who were interested enough in the community and schools to run for office. I am looking forward to seeing the work accomplished by both the newly elected and existing board members, because the board will consist of well-rounded and experienced individuals. While seeking office, I outlined several goals I wished to …

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After Election, BOE Winners Focused on Improving District

All three candidates—David Weinstein, Sheryl Sawin and Brandon Pugh—have the same goals in mind.

Moorestown’s newest school board members may come from varying backgrounds—a former teacher who did virtually no campaigning, a 19-year-old EMT and an attorney who was the race’s only incumbent—but they all have the same goal in mind. Sheryl Sawin, a former college professor who came in second with 3,762 votes, said friends and acquaintances had been urging her to run for years. Still, she was “pleasantly surprised” with her victory, considering she did almost nothing in the way of traditional campaigning. “It’s not my M.O,” she said. “I was resolutely against that … I just felt it wasn’t productive to align myself politically.” Some had speculated politics would play a part in this year’s school election after it was moved from April to …

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Teen, Teacher and Incumbent Elected to Moorestown BOE

Also, Moorestown went Obama for the second time—though by a smaller margin than in 2008—and reelected Burlington County freeholders Bruce Garganio and Mary Ann O'Brien.

Voters elected an incumbent, a teacher and a recent high school graduate to the Moorestown Board of Education Tuesday. Incumbent David Weinstein was selected for a second three-year term, earning the most votes with 3,922. Former college professor Sheryl Sawin came in second with 3,762, and 19-year-old Brandon Pugh landed in third with 3,420. There were three open seats on the board. “I’m looking forward to, not to overuse an expression, getting down to business,” said Pugh, who monitored the results as they came in at town hall Tuesday night. Some were skeptical of Pugh because of his age and seeming lack of experience, but he described his youth as an advantage. “I really offer a new perspective,” he said. “Having someone who’s not too …

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Brandon Pugh, Candidate for Moorestown BOE

A recent graduate of Moorestown High School, Pugh could bring a fresh perspective to the board of education.

Name : Mr. Brandon Joshua Pugh Date of birth : 20 December 1992 Place of residence : Moorestown, New Jersey Attended college : Yes College : The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) University : Candidate Pugh has many professional certificates from a variety of organizations, educational institutions and federal agencies, including the Department of Education. Volunteer and paid EMT with Moorestown First Aid and Emergency Squad and Lenola Fire Company Emergency Unit Public Safety and Homeland Security, training and consultation — Description : Provide training and consulting to various private and government agencies, including in emergency preparedness, threat mitigation, continuity of operations, and incident management.  NJ Governor's Office …

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Tax Playa

8:17 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012

@Brandon- Will I get a response? I am particularly interested in hearing from you as we all know your father is a policeman in town and thus will get a pension from the state system. Will you support changing from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan?   more ›