Ocean City Board of Education Candidate Profile: Antwan McClellan

Incumbent Anwan McClellan is running for his first full three-year term on the Ocean City Board of Education. He was appointed to fill the unexpired seat of Jay Gillian, who was elected mayor last spring.

BIO INFORMATION:

Name: Antwan McClellan

Age: 36

Address: 400 block of West Avenue

Education: Graduated from Ocean City High School in 1993. Did one year at Virgina State University and one at Old Dominion University.

No. of years lived in Ocean City: 36

Family in school system: Cousin and father was until he passed away in 2000

Occupation: Paralegal at Slater, Tenaglia, Fritz and Hunt P.A.

Public service: One year on school board (filling the unexpired term of Mayor Jay Gillian); five months as trustee for Ocean City Historical Museum; three years as a volunteer for the Field of Dreams.

BOARD SERVICE:

Any accomplishments you’re particularly proud of during your most recent term? I was proud that we voted to approve the school choice program.

Any issues you see as critical during your next term? Budget

HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION:

In a hypothetical contract negotiation, do you: 

A) Recognize that Ocean City teachers are among the highest-paid in New Jersey with a median salary of more than $82,000, and hold the line on salary increases while pushing for more concessions from employees on benefits.

or

B) Recognize that Ocean City teachers are among the most experienced in New Jersey with a median tenure of 17 years and with 70 percent holding master’s degrees, and look for budget cuts elsewhere.

Both questions are valid points, but since we have contract talks going on, I will not answer. Sorry about that.