Julius Nunez, Montgomery School Board Candidate

The 2025 Montgomery Board of Education Candidates, In Their Own Words

The Montgomery News | October 3, 2025

Six candidates are running for three open seats on the Montgomery School Board, following a year of long, heated discussions at board meetings, some lasting until midnight. The current board of nine members could be described as fractured on multiple important issues.

The local chapter of the League of Women Voters and The Montgomery News invited all school board candidates to a participate a candidates' forum during the month of October - as has been a common local practice. Three candidates said yes (Julius Nunez, Francine Pfeffer, and Katheryn Worland of the Excellence in Education Slate). Two did not respond (Jiying “Peter” Li and Joanna Filak), and Ania Wolecka-Jernigan responded no. Incumbent Michelle Dowling will not seek another term.

The candidates' answers in this "In Their Own Words" series are unedited. The Montgomery News is donating this space.

Julius Nunez

Finance Director

Nunez serves as a finance director at Medtech Central Finance Program. He is not quite an incumbent, but not entirely new either. The board briefly appointed Nunez in September to fill an unexpired position. The 3-month term expired in December 2024.

Q: Do you believe in an educational “voucher system” that would allow parents to take taxpayer money and divert it to pay for private school tuition costs? Why?

A: It’s important to approach the topic with a balanced perspective. My primary focus remains on strengthening our excellent public schools. It’s a top-tier district, and we must continue to invest in and improve it for all our students.

While New Jersey doesn’t currently have a voucher program, I believe in keeping an open mind and examining the results from states that do. It’s valuable to see how these systems have impacted student outcomes and public school funding elsewhere.

Ultimately, state funds are taxpayer funded. Given the right circumstances, it’s worth considering whether individual taxpayers should have more options for how a portion of their money is allocated for their child’s education. Any new legislation in this area would require a deep dive into the specifics of what’s being proposed. The details are crucial, from eligibility requirements to accountability measures, to ensure any program would be a net positive for students and the community.

It’s important to remember that decisions on educational funding models like vouchers are made at the state level. The school board’s purpose is to set priorities for our district and manage our resources to deliver the highest quality education. My focus will always be on what we can control and improve right here in our community: strengthening our excellent public schools.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement, why or why not: “The responsibility of School Board members in New Jersey is confined to policy making, planning and appraisal, and helping to frame policies and plans after consultation with those affected by them. A board member’s responsibility is not to administer the schools, but to see that they are well run.”

A: I strongly agree with the statement. The role of a school board member is to set the vision and ensure the district is well-managed, not to be involved in day-to-day administration.

The school board’s responsibility is in helping create the framework and overall goals for the district. The school board’s job isn’t to run the schools on a daily basis; that’s the superintendent and their administration’s job. The school board’s role is to make sure the schools are well run by the professionals they’ve hired.

A school board’s effectiveness hinges on its ability to stay focused and productive, not micromanaging. A common pitfall that I’ve observed is when meetings get sidetracked by personal agendas. I’ve seen personal pet projects and a tendency to constantly revisit past board decisions create a chaotic whirlwind that prevents us from moving forward. Getting bogged down in these issues is not the way to get results. My goal is to ensure we can be efficient and effective in our meetings, focusing on the future of our students.

Q: Who do you believe should be determining which books are in the school library system and in the curriculum and why?

A: This responsibility should rest with the school librarians and professional educators. They are specifically trained to select materials that are age-appropriate, aligned with educational standards. We trust these professionals to use their expertise to build a balanced and high-quality collection that supports student learning and curiosity. However, parents play a vital role and their concerns must be heard. If a parent has an issue with a specific book, they should be able to formally challenge it through a clear, established process. This ensures that any decision is based on a thoughtful review rather than on a single complaint. In the end, we should trust the professionals we hire to do their jobs. 

Q: Montgomery’s population includes a large percentage of immigrants. What is the role of schools when interacting with ICE in your community? 

A: The role of schools when interacting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a matter of strict policy in NJ. The NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) has provided clear guidance to all school districts on this topic, and these policies are in place to be followed to the letter.

Q: Do you support the implementation of policy 5756? If elected, will you seek to rescind or remove the policy and why or why not? If the policy is removed or rescinded in your district, what is your alternative plan dealing with the issues this policy covers?

A: Parents expect schools to provide clear and open communication about their children’s education and progress. I believe in giving parents the space to parent. This has always been our experience in Montgomery.

My hope is to build a trusting relationship with my children so they know I’ll be there to celebrate their successes and support them through challenges. I also believe it’s important for children to be true to themselves as they grow into responsible adults.

In 2018, Montgomery schools adopted a version of Policy 5756. I am not aware of any problems this policy has caused. While NJ courts have ruled that Policy 5756 is optional, they’ve also clearly stated that outing a student is illegal. If the school board were to repeal Policy 5756, a new replacement policy would need to be drafted. I believe it’s appropriate to periodically review past decisions and make changes. If the topic of Policy 5756 is revisited, it should be done with the key question of what new guidance is being added or subtracted, and with the understanding that any changes must be compliant with federal and state law.

Q: What issues, if any, do you believe your district needs to address in its academic program and vocational and fine arts offerings? What changes would you recommend?

A: Based on the fact that Montgomery schools are already top-ranked in NJ, I believe our academic, vocational, and fine arts programs are headed in the right direction. The issues we face are not systemic failures that require a complete overhaul, but rather opportunities for continuous improvement.

I don’t believe any single person should make broad curriculum decisions. My approach is rooted in collaboration and problem-solving. I would gather feedback from various stakeholders—including educators, parents, and both current and past students—to identify which areas of the academic program, vocational and fine arts offerings need to be revisited.  Connecting this back to the topic of priorities, I would hope that a start, stop, continue exercise would be a holistic tool to identify  potential enhancements to the academic, vocational and fine arts offerings. ■

Two incumbents, Joanna Filak and Ania Wolecka-Jernigan, are seeking reelection. They are running on a slate with Montgomery resident Jiying "Peter" Li. This election will have serious consequences on the future of the school district, so it is important to vote. >> Click Here to Review their responses. ■