West Orange Board of Education · 2026
Planning excellence together
I'm Larry Weintraub — a physicist, coach, and West Orange dad running to bring our town together and protect a high quality education for every child, even as costs rise and resources shrink.
- Physicist & problem-solver
- Public-school parent
- Youth sports coach
Who is Larry Weintraub, and what is he running for?
Lawrence (Larry) Weintraub is a candidate for the West Orange Board of Education in West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey in 2026. He is a physicist and public-school parent whose platform centers on protecting high quality education through smart, transparent budget planning, rebuilding community trust, settling the teacher contract, and reforming how Trenton funds our schools.
Read the full voter FAQ
The Priorities
Where Larry stands
West Orange faces a roughly $10 Million structural deficit every year. We can't cut our way to excellence — we need a plan, built together.
One Town
West Orange is one town with many communities. The Board of Education must collaborate with the Mayor and Town Council to solve problems, not point fingers.
Learn moreThe Trust Deficit
Layoffs, program uncertainty, an unsettled teacher contract, and a lack of communication have created a trust deficit. Trust is rebuilt through communication, transparency, and accountability.
Learn moreThe Financial Deficit
This is the single biggest issue facing the West Orange Board of Education. Without change, the same services will cost $10 Million more each year than we can fund.
Learn moreCommunication
Budget decisions have been shared too late to change. The administration and BOE must present options in the Fall and Winter — through letters, town halls, surveys, and two-way dialogue.
Learn moreCommunity Budget Advisory Council
Create an independent Community Budget Advisory Council (CBAC) with the time, knowledge, and responsibility to review real budget line items and recommend alternatives before the March–May approval process.
Learn moreThe Teacher Contract
The WOEA contract expired in June 2025. We must restore good faith, settle a mutually agreeable agreement, and make long-term financial planning possible.
Learn moreTrenton
The core fiscal issue is how Trenton funds our schools. Larry has led West Orange Parents for Education (WOPE) in pushing the state to fix a formula that overburdens local homeowners.
Learn moreDoing the Work
Larry built a computer model of NJ’s School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) that is being used to evaluate fairer funding — and has organized with districts and coalitions across the state.
Learn moreAbout Larry
A physicist doing the work
Larry Weintraub has lived in West Orange since 2018 with his wife, Dayna, and their two boys. A physicist researching machine learning for wireless communication, he has spent two years modeling New Jersey’s school funding formula and organizing with families, legislators, and districts across the state to find real solutions.
Read Larry's StoryOur kids deserve a plan.
Join a campaign built on planning, collaboration and trust.