Meet the Princeton Board of Education candidates: Ari Meisel

Age: 41

Occupation: Business coach

Your campaign slogan if you have one: “Transparent, Efficient, Effective.”

This slogan underscores my dedication to fostering transparency in our school board’s operations, enhancing efficiency in how our resources are managed, and ensuring effectiveness in delivering educational excellence to every student.

Campaign website or social media link: www.ariforprinceton.com

Please tell us about your personal background, including education and work experience:

I grew up in New York City, where I attended the United Nations International School. I later earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in real estate and entrepreneurship with minors in psychology and art history.

After college, I ventured into real estate, construction, and sustainable design, revitalizing an area of upstate New York. This work laid the foundation for my transition into creating Less Doing, a productivity system designed to optimize, automate, and outsource tasks to enhance organizational and personal productivity.

Over the last 14 years, I have authored several books, delivered keynote speeches globally, and provided coaching and consultancy services to help thousands of individuals and hundreds of organizations achieve peak operational efficiency.

How many years have you lived in Princeton: 4

What is your connection to the Princeton Public Schools? If you have children, what schools did they attend in the 2023-24 academic year?

I have 5 children, 4 who are in the PPS and one who is 15 months. Ben was in 6th grade at Princeton Middle School. Lucas and Sebastien were in 5th grade at Littlebrook. Chloe was in 2nd grade at Littlebrook.

Please tell us about your public service background:

While in upstate New York, I became chairman of the board of First Night Binghamton and helped produce 200 events on New Years Eve 2006. While in Binghamton, I also became the chairman of the Architectural Review Board for the City of Binghamton and was appointed to the Binghamton Regional Airport Board.

I also served on the board the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation for several years. I’ve also been a volunteer EMT for nearly 15 years, I’ve worked with 7 different ambulance services in that time, including the Central Park Medical Unit during COVID.

Since moving to Princeton, I have been a volunteer EMT at the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, where I am currently the vice president. I’m the chair of the House Committee of the Jewish Center of Princeton and currently serve as the VP of Spiritwear for the Princeton Middle School PTO. Additionally, I am the vice chair of the Princeton Committee on Affordable Housing, Racial, Economic, and Social Equity and Human Services.

Why are you running for a seat on the Princeton Board of Education?

I am running for the school board to apply my expertise in productivity and system optimization to enhance our educational system. My aim is to ensure our schools achieve academic excellence and operate with maximum efficiency and transparency.

I am deeply committed to increasing opportunities for all students to be engaged and challenged, fostering an environment that prepares them not only academically but also for real-world challenges.

By integrating innovative solutions and leveraging community involvement, we can make our educational experience more enriching, equitable, and effective.

What do you view as top three biggest issues or policy priorities for the school district?

Enhancing Educational Outcomes: By better integrating technology and innovative teaching methods as well as engaging the expertise of members of our community.

Community Engagement: Increasing transparency and community involvement in decision-making processes.

Fiscal Responsibility: Ensuring that our budget is managed efficiently to maximize educational quality without undue burden on taxpayers.

How do you anticipate coping with any cuts in state aid to the school district and what are your spending priorities when it comes to the school budget?

In the event of cuts to state aid, my approach will focus on preserving core educational programs by optimizing our existing resources and reducing non-essential expenditures. I plan to apply principles from my expertise in productivity enhancement to scrutinize and streamline our budget, ensuring that every dollar is spent effectively.

My top spending priorities include maintaining high-quality classroom instruction, supporting extracurricular activities that enrich student learning, and investing in professional development to empower our educators.

As the school district grows, what are your ideas on how to control costs and property taxes?

As the district expands, my focus will be on maintaining fiscal discipline through technological advancements and process optimizations to control costs.

I advocate for the adoption of energy-efficient technologies in school facilities to reduce operational costs and promote environmental stewardship. Furthermore, I propose rigorous audits of all expenditures to ensure efficient fund usage.

Importantly, I believe in leveraging the wealth of talent and expertise within our own community. Instead of relying on external consultants, we should engage local professionals and stakeholders who are already invested in our district’s success. This approach not only fosters community engagement but also reduces costs associated with outside services.

What is your position on payments in lieu of taxes agreements made to housing developers and what should the school board do about these agreements?

I am cautious about PILOT agreements because, while they can encourage development, they often do so at the expense of future tax revenues that are crucial for funding our schools. The school board should take a proactive role in these agreements to ensure that they are structured to benefit the educational system. This includes advocating for clauses that allocate a portion of PILOT payments directly to the school district, ensuring our schools receive a fair share of the financial benefits from new developments.

Additionally, the board should work closely with town planners and council members to assess the long-term impacts of these agreements on our school funding and advocate for terms that support sustainable educational funding.

Should the school district purchase Westminster Choir College? Why or why not?

The question of whether the district should purchase Westminster Choir College is not a straightforward one. Financially, the purchase would be challenging and may not align with our current budgetary priorities or constraints.

Additionally, the college itself is not available for purchase, which renders the discussion somewhat hypothetical at this stage. Instead of focusing on acquiring the college, our efforts would be better directed towards strengthening the programs already offered within our schools and ensuring their financial stability. This approach allows us to concentrate resources on immediate, actionable improvements that directly benefit our students.

What is your opinion on the curriculum taught in the Princeton schools and what would you change?

I believe the curriculum in Princeton schools is robust and well-rounded, but there is always room for improvement to meet evolving educational standards and the needs of all students.

I would advocate for increased integration of technology and digital literacy across all grades to ensure students are well-prepared for the future. Additionally, expanding the curriculum to include more practical life skills, such as financial literacy, and civic education, could provide valuable tools for students to succeed beyond the classroom.

Enhancing STEM offerings and supporting the arts are also critical to fostering a balanced and inclusive educational environment.

Is there anything else you want voters to know about yourself, your campaign, or the issues you care most about?

I am committed to fostering a school environment that prepares every student not just academically, but for life’s practical challenges. My campaign is built on principles of transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness, ensuring every decision is made with our children’s future in mind. I believe in leveraging local resources and expertise to enhance our educational offerings and ensure our schools are a place where every student can thrive.