John Fluet: 2025 HIllsborough Board of Education Candidate
Hillsborough’s General Election on November 4, 2025 includes six candidates running for three open seats on the Township Board of Education. Incumbents Joel Davis, Danny Lee and Jean Trujillo are seeking re-election, while Marc Ehrenkrantz, John Fluet and Jannah Hameed are running as challengers.
To provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about each candidate, heyBORO invited all six to participate in a Q&A as part of our Meet Your BOE Candidate series. Three candidates submitted responses, which are presented here in their entirety. All candidates were given the same questions and equal opportunity to respond.
John Fluet
Hillsborough township 2025 Board of Education Candidate
SHort BIO
Tell us a little about yourself – your background, connection to Hillsborough and why you’re running.
I've lived in Hillsborough for as long as I can remember, and am a graduate of the class of 2025 from Hillsborough schools. In that capacity, I've seen a number of problems in our schools system that I am uniquely qualified to address. Furthermore, I'm an Eagle Scout with Troop 1776, I have over 200 hours of community service, and I held the highest scouting position as the Senior Patrol Leader. I feel serving on your the BOE would be a natural continuation of my longtime servant leadership.
Property Taxes & Budget
This year’s school budget and tax increase have been a big topic in Hillsborough. How do you think the Board of Education should balance the needs of our schools with the financial concerns of homeowners?
We need to take more cost saving measures. The increase in property taxes was not the way to go, and the taxpayer should not suffer because of the irresponsible spending of the incumbent Board. My platform, which can be viewed on my website, would create a number of new expenditures. However, I've thought of a number of ways to ensure they don't cost the taxpayer a single additional cent. Through recommending that the Township Committee increase shared services, create and Government Energy Aggregation, take advantage of NJ's free energy audits, and refinance the town debt, the Board doesn't have to immediately resort to a reckless tax hike. If elected, I would bring this cost saving mindset to the Board.
Priorities for Our Schools
What are your top priorities for Hillsborough schools over the next few years? This could include academics, programs, teachers, facilities or student well-being.
My priorities are increasing school safety, ending administrative neglect for concerned parents, reforming our physical education, and better compensating English teachers. These ends can be met by increasing security presence and patrolling, as well as taking a more proactive approach to mental health to prevent violence before it happens, holding administration officials to email response deadlines, making our PE classes graded on effort rather than participation or athletic ability, and providing our English teacher with a targeted salary increase.
Transparency & Community Input
Many residents feel out of the loop on BOE decisions. How would you make sure the community stays informed and involved in important decisions?
Transparency is actually a big part of my platform. Just last year, some of our brightest and best students were failed by the administration in the AP French incident, which can be read about on my website and Facebook page. That said, I would be a hypocrite if I wanted to hold administrators to higher transparency standard, but not myself. If elected, I would push for more transparent hiring and firing practices from the Board, which was a big issue during the aforementioned AP French incident.
Non-Negotiables
What are your “no compromise” priorities for the Board of Education — things you feel strongly about protecting or ensuring happen in Hillsborough schools?
A non-negotiable of mine would easily be increasing the the amount of Student Resource Officers. We can no longer ignore the increase in physical altercations in our schools. In my Junior year alone, there was one day that had upwards of six fights. We need our security to be on high alert to stop these incidents before they happen, because they are happening.
Immediate Change
If elected, what is one thing you would like to change immediately in the Hillsborough education system?
If elected, I would immediately repeal the jeans and sneakers rule in our gym classes. Currently, those who wear jeans and don't wear sneakers are required to sit our of gym classes. However, many students do so intentionally to get out of exercising, and are more than fine with taking the wrist slap on their grades. This rule must be done away with to ensure all of our students get the proper physical education they need.
Personal Message
A short message to Hillsborough residents about why you’re running and what you hope to bring to the Board.
My time in scouting, and the teachings of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ have instilled in me a great desire to serve my fellow man. Now that my time in scouting is up, I firmly believe that my firsthand experience in Hillsborough schools from only a few months ago has made serving on your Board of Education the best way to continue serving my fellow man. In conclusion, if elected, I hope to bring sensibility, sensitivity, and security to the Board. Now let's Break the Mold!
contact John Fluet
Website: https://votefluet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579693894120
Email: johnfluet@gmail.com
