Ocean City Board of Education Candidate Profile: Joseph Clark

Incumbent Joseph Clark is running unopposed for a second three-year term on the Ocean City Board of Education.

BIO INFORMATION:

Name: Joseph Clark

Age: 53

Address: 200 block of North Point Road

Education: B.A. from West Chester University in public administration.

No. of years lived in Ocean City: 30

Family in school system: Three children are Ocean City High School graduates.

Occupation: Purchasing manager for the City of Ocean City. Worked for city since 1983.

Public service: Has served three years on the Ocean City Board of Education and is running for a second term. Board member of the Ocean City Education Foundation; member of Ocean City Shade Tree Committee; Margate Community Church trustee; has served as longtime scoutmaster and as a board member of the Ocean City Historical Commission.

BOARD SERVICE:

Any accomplishments you’re particularly proud of during your most recent term? Clark said he's proud of being part of a broad team that has made Ocean City a model for other school districts. And he said he understands the need to balance the needs of more than just students. "You also have to recognize that you represent the taxpayers," Clark said. He pointed to various efforts to develop shared services with other entities. "We’ve stepped it up in the last couple years."

Any issues you see as critical during your next term? Declining enrollment. We have to start being creative in that area. We have to be receptive to new sending districts. ... We need the parents. We need the community. Booster clubs are more important than ever. The PTA and Education Foundation fill gaps and voids. 

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.

They’re both true. We have to be aware of where we stand statewide and regionwide. Pointing to the higher salaries of experienced and educated teachers, Clark said retirements can help—that natural cycles of hiring new employees lower on the pay scale will occur. He also said new factors such as online courses have made it easier and faster for teachers to climb the pay scale. He said the district must continue to take steps to develop controls to make sure teachers' advanced degrees translate into greater benefits to students' education.