Meet BOE Candidate Louis Evangelista

In advance of Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 6), Collingswood Patch will bring you information on each of the five Board of Education candidates seeking office for the upcoming term.

The following personal statement was provided to Patch by incumbent Board of Education candidate Louis Evangelista.

Age: 54

Family: Married to Laura my wife, we have four children. Lacey is 19, a graduate of CHS, presently a sophomore at Ursinus College. Dylan is a senior at CHS, Emmah is in 8th grade and Rocco is in 6th grade.

Previous School Board Experience: I have been on the Collingswood Board of Education since 2006 serving on our Finance, Building and Grounds Committee and serving as the Chairperson of our Personnel Committee.

Community Service: Coached Colls LL baseball for over 10 years and served on its Board for 3 years. I was part of the Soccer Recreation program and coached for numerous years. I volunteered and worked on several shows of the Collingswood Youth Theater. I chaired the Colls Bond Referendum committee which successfully passed our $20 million bond. I was a member of the core group of 25 individuals who were part of the initial Strategic Planning Committee in 2005. I am also a Eucharistic minister and Lector at Blessed Theresa of Calcutta parish here in Collingswood.

Reason for Running: “Public schools are the backbone of any community. I believe in a public school education and that all children in our communities deserve the best, most affordable education possible. I have worked for the last six years with the Superintendent, administration and teachers to strive and deliver on these goals."

Changes Proposed: “I would continue on the course we have been on for the last several years: to provide the best education possible to our children, utilizing our financial resources optimally by scrutinizing how we spend our budget. Hire the best candidates available when positions open up. Provide in house training to ensure our teachers are at their best. Educate our kids, one student at a time so that they can compete in a global economy."

Action Plan for Proposed Changes: “Partner with the Superintendent, fellow Board Members, Administration, teachers, students, parents and members of the community to constantly find opportunities to improve our schools."