BCJAC

BCJAC Teaneck Board of Education Questionnaires and Clean Campaign Pledges

2026 Teaneck Board of Education

Teaneck residents are voting to fill three seats on the Board of Education (BOE) this year. BCJAC sent a questionnaire to the five candidates in the race. Two candidates completed the questionnaire and gave permission for their responses to be published. Based on their responses (below), additional candidate meetings, and information in the public domain, BCJAC is endorsing Gerald Kirshenbaum and David Gruber only for BOE. As a condition of our endorsement, these candidates have committed to abide by a pledge to run a clean, respectful campaign that focuses on issues and refrains from personal or ad hominem attacks.

Clean Campaign Pledge

As a candidate for local office, I pledge to run a campaign rooted in honesty, respect, and integrity. I will focus on the issues that matter to our township and refrain from personal or ad hominem attacks against any opponent. I will speak respectfully about all candidates, public servants, and community leaders, recognizing that civil discourse strengthens our democracy. I will require those in my inner circle, such as campaign managers, volunteers, and other affiliates to do the same. Should they employ such tactics on my behalf, I will denounce them and ask for any posts or other communications that violate the letter or spirit of this pledge to be removed. My campaign will be guided by fairness, transparency, and a shared commitment to the public good.

Signed by

David GruberReaching Higher
Gerald KirshenbaumReaching Higher

Questions for the Candidates

What qualifies you to run for the Board of Education? What unique skills do you possess that would help the district if you were elected? Which committees would be your area of focus if elected?

David GruberReaching Higher

I bring more than 40 years of experience as a corporate executive, Wall Street analyst, and consultant, a background that gives me a strong foundation for adding real value to the Board’s work. For the past two years I have served as Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee, and I also sit on the Negotiating and Government Advocacy Committees. Finance and Facilities would remain my area of focus: making sure every dollar the district spends is accounted for and working for our students.

Gerald KirshenbaumReaching Higher

I have been in education over 53 years. I spent 30 years in public education as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent of schools for curriculum and instruction. I then ran three private day schools for twenty years. Two of them were PreK-8 and one was a boys' high school. I am just finishing my first term as a BOE member and I am presently vice president of the Board. I have been involved in many curriculum projects throughout my career. I was a grant writer for the New Rochelle School District and coauthored the Magnet Grant. The district received $3.2 million dollars to create a new early childhood center. I have been on teams that selected educational leaders. In fact, I culled out the names of candidates for our BOE to interview for the interim superintendent. I have been involved in school districts as an insider and an outsider. I am familiar with curriculum development, professional development and administration. I am presently the chairman of the curriculum committee.

When picking a District Superintendent, what is your number one priority? What are important qualities and qualifications you would like to see in potential candidates?

David GruberReaching Higher

My number one priority is proven experience: a candidate who has served as a principal, central-office administrator, assistant superintendent, or superintendent. Beyond that, I would look for strong academic leadership with a focus on student performance, skill in personnel management, the ability to run district operations and finances, strong communication and community engagement, and integrity that is beyond question. These criteria reflect the standards used in the Teaneck BOE’s last two superintendent searches. I was not part of either hiring decision, but I believe they are the right benchmarks for the next one.

Gerald KirshenbaumReaching Higher

A superintendent must be an educational leader who is familiar with curriculum K-12 and has outstanding communication skills. The superintendent must be a good listener who can project a vision for the district that strengthens its offerings and meets the needs of all students. The superintendent ensures that the curriculum provides all students with stimulating opportunities which prepares them for their world beyond secondary education.

Do you support the Teaneck Public Schools adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism as a non-binding educational and training resource for understanding antisemitism?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Undecided / Need more information

Please briefly explain your answer.

David GruberReaching Higher

Answer: Yes

I support the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. The line between free speech and hate speech is sometimes clear and sometimes ambiguous, which is exactly why a shared, well-established definition is a valuable resource for our educators. Teaneck High School holds an annual Holocaust memorial presentation attended by 200–300 students. CAIR-NJ has attempted to influence the district’s curriculum; to date, that effort has not been successful.

Gerald KirshenbaumReaching Higher

Answer: Yes

The district should adopt the IHRA policy on hatred. Whereas students can express their personal views in school, they cannot advocate hatred of any group. As a member of the district's policy committee, we upgraded our district's policy on student demonstrations to prevent any student demonstrations from advocating hatred. We even adopted the UN's definition of hatred. The district ensures that programs are presented at THS that address and prevent the hatred of ethnic groups. I have used the ADL programs with groups of students and the material was effective.

What role should the district play in educating students about antisemitism and other forms of hate? Are there any programs or initiatives you would support or expand?

David GruberReaching Higher

No response provided.

Gerald KirshenbaumReaching Higher

No response provided.

If you were given the opportunity to redesign how money is allocated within the BOE budget, what changes would you make? Please be specific and explain your rationale.

David GruberReaching Higher

As Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee, I know the district’s budget in detail. Three main drivers account for our costs: personnel, special education, and health insurance. Personnel costs are set through contract negotiations and are relatively fixed. Special education costs are being driven by unilateral placements outside the public school system and by transportation. Health insurance costs rose 17%, well below the 30% increase under the State Health Plan. Each of these areas deserves close analysis so we can sustain district operations while keeping tax increases reasonable.

Gerald KirshenbaumReaching Higher

The school budget is significantly predetermined by state regs and school personnel agreements. The areas of transportation, special education and health insurance are rapidly expanding and require the district to creatively address health insurance and special education. We are examining ways of coordinating with other districts to contain health insurance as well as strengthening our special education procedures.

Should the district continue administering transportation for all students who currently qualify under state law, whether they attend public or non-public schools? Please explain your reasoning.

David GruberReaching Higher

State law requires busing for K–8 students who live more than 2 miles from school and for high school students who live more than 2.5 miles away, so these routes cannot be eliminated. Beyond that mandate, Teaneck also provides courtesy busing for preschool and K–4 students who live more than 0.9 miles from school. I support busing as required by law, and I support continuing courtesy busing as a real help to working parents.

Gerald KirshenbaumReaching Higher

Students in Grades K-8 who live beyond 2 miles from their school must be transported by state law. Secondary students must reside beyond 2.5 miles. This should apply to both public and nonpublic school children. We must ensure the safety of all Teaneck students traveling to school.