TEANECK, N.J.: Teaneck students should not lose learning time because their classrooms are too hot, and working parents should not be forced to scramble for child care when schools close, Board of Education challenger Eric Rhea argued.

Rhea made air conditioning one of his central campaign issues at the Sept. 24 candidates forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Teaneck. He criticized the district for not moving forward with a bond referendum for capital improvements and said the project should be treated as an urgent need.

In his written response to the League, Rhea said the proposed $50 million bond referendum would have cost an estimated $16 per month per household, or about 50 cents a day. He argued that postponing necessary improvements could make them more expensive over time, while school closures and shortened days create burdens for parents who must miss work or arrange last-minute child care.

Rhea also pointed to Teaneck’s mixed-delivery Pre-K model as a decision worth preserving. The program allows private centers to provide the district’s curriculum, expanding access to publicly funded preschool.

He said the arrangement helped his family and allows children to receive early education in their own community. Rhea’s daughter had previously attended the French American Academy in Englewood, which he said cost more than $26,000 for the school year, before the family benefited from the expanded local preschool options.

On the district’s next superintendent, Rhea wants someone with a record of fiscal responsibility who can work productively with teachers and administrators. He said the board should carefully vet candidates after repeated leadership turnover and ensure key hires are made on merit, without nepotism or favoritism.

At the forum, he also criticized what he sees as outdated curriculum materials. Some high-school textbooks, he said, are decades old. He called for updated resources and technology while expressing caution about relying too heavily on artificial intelligence in schools.

Rhea argued that the district should review transportation costs, pursue grants and identify savings that can support education. He also said a stronger public school system, including air-conditioned classrooms, could help families feel confident about enrolling their children locally rather than seeking charter or private alternatives.

A Teaneck resident for five years, Rhea moved to town with his wife, Madalina, before their daughter Evelyn was born. He runs Furnish My Space, an interior design business, and has volunteered with the Hoods to Woods Foundation, Bergen Day School and Never Alone Again.

Rhea also stressed that residents without children in public schools remain part of the community and contribute to its shared costs.

In his closing remarks, he urged voters to support Team EFG, arguing that the district needs board members who have children in Teaneck schools and understand the stakes for families.

Rhea is running on Column A in the Nov. 3 election.