Dear Verona Community,
It has been an honor to serve as a member of the Verona Board of Education. As I seek re-election to another one-year term, I want to reflect on the work we have accomplished together and the continued work ahead for our students, schools, and community.
During my time on the Board, I have been committed to ensuring that our schools are safe and have programs and supports that recognize the individual needs of every student. Among the initiatives advanced during my tenure are the addition of elementary inclusion classroom options, expanded intervention supports, a new Life Skills program at the high school, and the establishment of a Gifted and Talented program. We have also implemented a comprehensive K–5 core literacy program designed to provide students with a strong and consistent foundation in reading and literacy and improved our security procedures and protocols.
These initiatives represent an important part of a broader goal, ensuring that every student has access to the appropriate opportunities, resources, and support to succeed. While I am proud of this progress, I also recognize that there is still work to be done.
One area of my work has extended beyond Verona’s schools to broader advocacy for school funding across New Jersey. Along with fellow Board members, I introduced a resolution calling for the sharing of PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) revenue with school districts. As the board delegate representative, I subsequently presented the resolution to the New Jersey School Boards Association Delegate Assembly, where it was overwhelmingly approved. I have also collaborated with members of the Verona Town Council and engaged with Assembly representatives and State Senators to advocate for greater sharing of PILOT revenues.
These efforts are particularly important at a time when budget constraints are affecting school districts throughout the state. We must continue to find responsible ways to protect educational opportunities and essential student services and extra-curricular programs while navigating the financial challenges facing our schools.
I am proud of what we have accomplished, but I believe our responsibility is to keep moving forward. If re-elected, I hope to continue serving the students and residents of Verona while working collaboratively at the local and state levels. I will also continue advocating for improvements to New Jersey's school funding formula so that communities, like Verona, can continue to meet the educational needs of our students.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve Verona's students and community. I am grateful for the work we have accomplished together and look forward to continuing the conversation about how we can strengthen our schools and support every student.
Sincerely,
Diana Ferrera