What Are the Issues?

Neptune's schools are facing a combination of financial pressure, declining enrollment, the continuing need to improve student outcomes, and the need for a stronger voice in Trenton.

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• Financial Pressure: Over the last six years, the Neptune Township School District has documented a $25 million loss in state aid as a result of S-2 legislation. At the same time, the District reports approximately $4 million in charter-school tuition costs. And in 2025, Neptune Township's school tax levy increased 25.31%, from $59.5 million to approximately $74.6 million.

• Declining Enrollment: Neptune Township's enrollment declined from 4,286 students in 2016 to 3,384 students in 2025—a decline of 21%. Neptune Township is also operating several schools substantially below their stated capacity. In 2025, Neptune High School was at approximately 39% of stated capacity, Neptune Middle School at 49%, and the five operating elementary schools ranged from approximately 49% to 59%.

• The Continuing Need to Improve Student Outcomes: There are encouraging signs in Neptune, but the latest New Jersey Department of Education data show that 35.6% of Neptune students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts, compared with 53.0% statewide, and 22.2% met or exceeded expectations in mathematics, compared with 42.0% statewide. Chronic absenteeism also remains a significant concern: 25.4% of Neptune students were chronically absent, compared with 14.4% statewide.

• The Need for a Stronger Voice in Trenton: S-3917 proposed changes to New Jersey's school-funding laws and would have established a Special Education Funding Review Task Force. The bill passed the State Senate on June 30, 2025, but did not receive a floor vote in the General Assembly and ultimately died. For Neptune, which has already documented substantial losses in state aid, decisions made in Trenton have direct consequences for our schools and taxpayers.

 

These are not separate problems. Neptune needs to maintain strong schools and improve student outcomes while adapting to a very different financial reality—and it needs a Board willing to advocate for Neptune when decisions in Trenton affect our students, our schools and our taxpayers.

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What Needs to Be Done?

The challenges facing Neptune require the Board to do more than manage through another budget year. I believe the Board needs to focus on four priorities:

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• Responsible Financial Stewardship: With substantially less state aid and increasing pressure on taxpayers, the Board needs to carefully examine staffing, administration, programs and other major expenditures. The objective isn't simply to cut spending. It is to protect what works, identify what can be done more efficiently and direct resources where they will have the greatest impact on students.

• Align the District with Today's Enrollment: A 21% decline in enrollment and schools operating substantially below their stated capacity require a serious examination of how Neptune uses its facilities and other resources. The Board should ask whether the District's current footprint still makes sense—and whether resources tied up in underutilized facilities could be better used to support students.

• Advocate for Neptune in Trenton: The Board cannot simply administer the consequences of decisions made by the State. It needs to fight for Neptune's fair share. The death of S-3917 demonstrates that proposed changes in Trenton cannot be taken for granted. Neptune needs a Board willing to work with legislators, other districts and statewide organizations to advocate for a fairer and more sustainable school-funding system.

• Demand Measurable Improvement in Student Outcomes: The Board should establish clear educational goals and measure whether the District is achieving them: more students reading and doing mathematics at grade level, fewer students chronically absent, continued improvement in graduation rates and stronger academic growth. Where the data show success, we should understand what's working and build on it. Where we're falling short, the Board should ask why, determine what needs to change and measure whether those changes are actually working.

 

The objective isn't simply to spend less or spend more. It is to make sure Neptune is using its resources effectively, adapting to today's realities, fighting for its fair share and producing better results for our students.

 

Why Am I Qualified?

The challenges facing Neptune require Board members who can ask difficult questions, understand complex financial and operational issues, make decisions based on data and hold leadership accountable for results. Those are skills I have developed throughout my career.

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For more than three decades, I have held senior leadership positions with some of the world's most respected consumer and beauty companies, including General Foods, Philips, Schick, Estée Lauder, CHANEL, Elizabeth Arden and KOSÉ. Most recently, I served as General Manager for KOSÉ North America, where I was responsible for strategy, operations and financial performance of a multi-million-dollar business.

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Throughout my career, I have managed significant budgets, built and led high-performing teams, guided organizations through change and been accountable for measurable results. That experience taught me how to understand the data, establish priorities, allocate limited resources and ask whether an organization is actually achieving its goals.

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I also bring a different perspective to our increasingly diverse community. I am a first-generation American and the daughter of immigrants from Argentina. I hold bachelor's degrees in Biochemistry and Spanish, an MBA from Georgetown University, studied international business at ESADE in Barcelona, and am fluent in English and Spanish.

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I believe that combination of financial responsibility, operational experience, strategic thinking and accountability is particularly relevant to the challenges Neptune faces today.

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And my philosophy is simple:

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Educational excellence and fiscal responsibility are not competing goals. Neptune's students and taxpayers deserve both.