About JAMES
James Angelo Giacchi, known as Jim, likes robotics and wants kids to learn practical skills that make them productive and responsible members of society. Jim believes in a traditional education with strong foundations in math, science, and life skills. He will focus on making WHRHS more efficient and more focused on foundational learning. He believes that it is important to provide opportunities, it is also important to balance the school-life schedule allowing children to have a childhood.
Jim Giacchi is a lifelong Warren resident and 2003 graduate of Watchung Hills Regional High School as well as an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts of America. He is a 2007 graduate of The College of New Jersey with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Jim has volunteered as a mentor for the WHRHS robotics team since 2003, lending his engineering and machining knowledge to many students. Jim has worked at Picatinny Arsenal since 2009 and is an officer in the NJ National Guard, serving two overseas deployments in 16 years as well as coordinating response efforts for Hurricane Sandy. He lives in Warren with his wife, son, dog, horses, only a few doors up the road from his childhood home.
Interview with the Warren Patch:
Position sought: Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education (Warren Seat)
Family: Married to wife Jessica currently raising my 14-month-old son Patrick, Horses; Zoey, and Piggy, Daphne the pony, and Frankie the terrier dog.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer with the United States Army and Cavalry Officer (Major) with the New Jersey Army National Guard
Previous or current elected appointed office: None
Why are you seeking to run for School Board?
I am seeking election to the School Board because I have spent the last 23 years involved in the Watchung Hills High School Robotics Program as both a student (1999-2003) and as a program mentor (2003 - Present). As a mentor with the robotics team I have seen areas within the system for efficiency improvements. This year a school bond is up for approval that will be renovating the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) facilities and I would like to be involved in the design and implementation of it. I would also like to expand my awareness of the various programs and curriculum on the high school and assist in streamlining and improving not just the STEM portions, but the effectiveness of the entire educational experience.
How do you feel about the current sex-ed curriculum in the district?
I do not have enough information to make an informed opinion on WHRHS’ current program. As a general statement, I believe that students within our school system should be given the sexual education necessary to make informed decisions, understand risk, consequences, understand biological function, and responsibility as a member of society.
Would you be in favor of a later school start time for students?
I think this question would need to take into consideration the entire school district as a system. Adjusting start times for the high school would have an effect on the other two levels of education and after school activities. I do not believe that there is a compelling enough reason to alter the start times considering the second and third order effects it would cause and I do not believe the start times are unreasonable as they are.
What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the school district?
I feel like there has been a lot of uncertainty and distractions the last few years that has hindered the teachers ability to focus on the teaching and for the students to focus on the learning. It is my goal to be a productive responsive and efficient member of the board, creating and approving policies that allow our students to focus on learning and our teachers to focus on teaching.
As an engineer I have a tendency to optimize everything. I’ve been known to spend large portions of time working to get things just right and working to make things as efficient as possible. I take that same professionalism and attention to detail to every task that I attempt and will do so with the position on the board if I am priveleged enough to earn your vote.
What sets you apart from the other challenging candidates?
As an engineer I find that I usually bring a unique perspective to problem solving that would be beneficial to the board.
I have direct student involvement with Watchung Hills Regional High School for the past 23 years through the Robotics program.
I have design, fabrication experience, practical problem solving experience.
Interveiw with the Echoes-Sentinel
WARREN TWP. – James Angelo Giacchi of Valley View Road is among seven candidates running for three, three-year terms representing Warren Township on the Watchung Hills Regional Board of Education in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 general election.
The field also includes Robert Morrison, Lisa DiMaggio, Frank Dwyer, Dominic DiBari, William Mayerchak and Peter Holczinger. Morrison is an incumbent. Dwyer, DiBari, Mayerchak and Holczinger did not submit candidate profiles to this newspaper.
Giacchi, 38, has lived in Warren his entire life. He has one young son. Giacchi holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He is a mechanical engineer with the U.S. Army and cavalry officer with the New Jersey Army National Guard.
Why are you running for the school board?
“I have spent the last 23 years involved in the Watchung Hills High School robotics program as both a student, from 1999 to 2003, and as a program mentor, from 2003 to the present,” Giacchi said. “As a mentor, I have seen areas within the system for efficiency improvements.
“This year a school bond was up for approval that will be renovating the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) facilities,” he added, “and I would like to be involved in the design and implementation of it. I would also like to expand my awareness of the various programs and curriculum in the high school and assist in streamlining and improving not just the STEM portions, but the effectiveness of the entire educational experience.”
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the district over the next three years? Over the next year?
“There has been a lot of uncertainty and distractions the last few years that has hindered the teachers’ ability to focus on the teaching, and for the students to focus on the learning,” Giacchi said. “It is my goal to be a productive, responsive and efficient member of the board, creating and approving policies that allow our students to focus on learning and our teachers to focus on teaching.
“As an engineer I have a tendency to optimize everything,” Giacchi said. “I’ve been known to spend large portions of time working to get things just right and working to make things as efficient as possible. I take that same professionalism and attention to detail to every task that I attempt and will do so with the position on the board if I am privileged enough to earn your vote.”
What special qualifications do you bring to help meet the challenge?
“As an engineer I find that I usually bring a unique perspective to problem solving that would be beneficial to the board,” Giacchi said. “I have direct student involvement with Watchung Hills Regional High School for the past 23 years through the robotics program. I have design, fabrication experience, practical problem-solving experience.”
Are there any specific areas that you feel are of particular importance that the board should be addressing, or should continue to focus on?
“I feel that life in general is getting more complicated and while we are offering more and more activities in school we are failing students at some of the most basic tasks,”Giacchi said. “I have met numerous doctorate level graduates who couldn’t explain loan interest or teenagers who did not understand how credit cards worked.
“I think, that as a board, we need to take a hard look at ensuring that we are educating the students at Watchung Hills with skills for further education,” Giacchi said, “while also ensuring that they are able to be productive and responsible members of society even if Watchung Hills Regional High School is the final level of education they receive.”
