Hear it from us.
Short videos on why we're running together, who we are, and what we'll do on the board. Choose any one and it plays right here.
New videos post on Instagram first. Follow @batla_mcelyea.
This Sunday
Come meet Joy and Hani
Sunday, Oct. 25, 3 to 5 p.m., at Houlihan's in Ramsey. Every Upper Saddle River resident is welcome. Bring your questions about Bogert, Cavallini, Northern Highlands, or anything else on your mind. Appetizers, plus a cash bar.
Please RSVP by Saturday, Oct. 24, through the Partiful link in our Instagram bio.
Meet and greet
The invite
Joy McElyea and Hani Batla
Sunday, Oct. 25, 3 to 5 p.m., Houlihan's in Ramsey.
Section one
In conversation
Joy and Hani sit down together to talk about the race. More are coming before Nov. 3.
Conversation 1 of 3
Why run together?
Joy McElyea and Hani Batla
Different vantage points, one goal: every USR student ready for each move they make. Bogert to Cavallini, Cavallini to Highlands, and whatever comes next.
Conversation 2 of 3
Why Hani is running
Joy McElyea and Hani Batla
Why Hani decided to run for the board, as a parent with daughters at Cavallini and Northern Highlands right now.
Conversation 3 of 3
Why this team works
Joy McElyea and Hani Batla
A current board member whose two sons graduated from Northern Highlands, and a parent with two daughters in the district now. Same goals.
Section two
Meet the candidates
Two candidates, one ticket. Column A on your ballot.
JOY McELYEA
Meet the candidate, episode 3
Joy McElyea
Current board member, running for re-election
Six years on the board, chair of Negotiations, and a member of the Finance and Personnel committees.
Meet the candidate, episode 4
Joy McElyea
Current board member, running for re-election
Twelve years in Upper Saddle River, and two sons who graduated from Northern Highlands.
HANI BATLA
Meet the candidate, episode 3
Hani Batla
Seven-year USR resident and parent of two
Five years on the Educational Foundation board, including the theater lighting and sound upgrade at Cavallini and Bogert.
Meet the candidate, episode 4
Hani Batla
Seven-year USR resident and parent of two
A day job managing large technology budgets and negotiating contracts, which is a large share of what a board handles.
Section three
Where we stand, in brief
The short version of the plan, and what students told us at our first Ask the Class sessions.
Ask the Class, results
What students told us
Cavallini 8th graders and USR graduates now at Highlands
They felt most ready in English and wanted more of a head start in science. Tests were the hardest jump. On AI, they want guidance, not just a ban.
The platform
Where we stand
Plus how to get a lawn sign
Students ready for every stage, Ask the Class, a plain-language summary of every board meeting, and a platform that doesn't ask for a new dollar.
Out in town
At the town-wide garage sale
Hani Batla
A day at the Woman's Club town-wide garage sale, hearing from neighbors and walking through the short version of the plan.
Two seats. Vote for both.
Joy McElyea and Hani Batla, Column A. Early voting runs Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.