Millburn Board of Education candidate Christian Germa proposes cutting subscription busing fees to reduce traffic congestion around district schools.

Germa, 56, laid out the proposal in a candidate profile published by Patch on Monday, Sept. 14. He argued that making school transportation more affordable would get more families onto buses and fewer cars onto the roads near school buildings.

"Traffic and congestion around our schools have become a real quality-of-life issue, and making school transportation more affordable would encourage more families to use buses instead of driving," Germa told Patch.

Current subscription busing fee amounts for the district were not listed in the profile.

Germa said he has lived in Millburn Township for more than a decade. All four of his sons have attended Millburn schools; three graduated from Millburn High School and his youngest is a junior there. One son needed a 504 plan, a formal accommodation for students with disabilities, which Germa said gave him perspective on how the district's high-expectations culture can affect student well-being.

He is retired from a career in project finance and works part-time as chief financial officer of a biotechnology company. He told Patch he has served more than 20 years as an independent board member of public and private companies, experience he said taught him what effective governance and oversight require.

Beyond busing, Germa said he would push for flexible learning pathways so every student can reach their potential, whether they need extra support or greater academic challenge. He also called for a measured approach to technology and artificial intelligence in classrooms, saying the district should embrace AI where it improves learning but limit it where it replaces critical thinking or human interaction.

Germa also proposed letting students take assessments home so they can learn from their mistakes. For younger students especially, he said, this would help parents better understand their child's progress.

His community involvement includes volunteering with the Rocktoberfest fundraiser, serving as a church deacon and participating in the district's strategic planning process.

Germa is one of seven candidates running for three open seats in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election. He is running on the "Listen · Educate · Deliver" slate with Anna Ostrovsky and Prasoon Saurabh, according to the slate's campaign website.

Early in-person voting runs from Saturday, Oct. 24 through Sunday, Nov. 1. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.