Controversial busing issue back on the table Sayreville board wants public input as talks begin on 2007-08 budget BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer Want to restore courtesy busing for children in grades six through 12 next year? Now is the time to speak up. That is the message of Sayreville Board of Education President Michael Macagnone, who wants the public to participate in the 2007-08 budget discussions, which began last week. The board will hold budget meetings at least once a month, he said. The board met Nov. 13 at the Jesse Selover Elementary School, seeking input from residents early in the process with hopes of avoiding the public outcry that followed the loss of courtesy busing for this school year. The busing was taken out of the general budget and placed in a special question during last April's school election. Residents voted 2,019 to 1,350 against funding the busing, which cost $300,000. The general budget was also rejected. Though hundreds came to meetings last spring and summer to air frustrations over the busing issue, public attendance was light at last week's budget meeting. "I was expecting a good number of people to come out to support us on courtesy busing, but we only had six new people come out [Nov. 13]," Macagnone said. "That tells me that this is not an issue." At the meeting, Macagnone called on the public to raise awareness of the need to participate in the process of forming and passing a school budget that will meet the needs of students and taxpayers. Officials noted that while they have a new start with this budget, they still face many of the tight budget constraints that they dealt with last year. The board discussed the options of again making courtesy busing a separate question on the ballot, or placing the expense back in the general budget and working to get voters to pass it as a whole. Macagnone said the board must weigh the options now, even though it does not yet have firm figures to discuss. The meeting was the first opportunity the board had to discuss the 2007-08 budget in public. "We thought it would be better to start this process early," Macagnone said. The board has to assume that state aid will be flat again this year, despite media reports that indicate it may be increased to school districts statewide, he said. The board expressed an interest in continuing to fund courtesy busing for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Macagnone estimated that the school district saved about $233,000 by not funding courtesy busing for grades six through 12 this school year. The initial savings of $300,000 decreased due to the cost of providing busing to students who live on what were deemed hazardous busing routes. The figure does not include the cost of additional crossing guards, which are being funded by the municipality. "My feelings, which I have articulated at every public meeting, is that when you put up courtesy busing against curriculum, or cutting teachers, courtesy busing is going to lose," Macagnone said. "My daughter lost a bus, so either my wife or I drive her to school every day." Board member Curtis Clark agreed, saying that curriculum is a greater priority than courtesy busing. He added that it is too early in the process to render a final decision. "There are a lot of other budgetary items causing pressure on this," Clark said. Macagnone stressed the importance of getting voters to pass the budget next April. He also discussed the hub-busing program, which he and Borough Councilman Stanley Drwal were considering until they discovered that the cost savings of the plan would not be realized. Board Vice President Pat Lembo suggested that the board put courtesy busing on the ballot as a separate question again. Board member Peter Barone agreed, adding that if it is defeated again, the board will know where the majority of voters stand on the issue. Board member Phyllis Batko, however, does not think it should be a separate question. "It failed by an extremely large number [of votes]," Batko said. ... "If it fails [again], we are going to be in the same boat as we were this year." Board member Thomas Biesiada said he views the defeat of the budget and courtesy busing as the voters' way of rebelling against the taxation system in New Jersey. He thinks the board should include transportation for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade in the general budget, in the interests of safety. Moving on to a discussion of full-day kindergarten programs, Macagnone said he initially advocated half-day kindergarten but now believes the full-day program is necessary. "I think this should be a no-brainer," he said. The rest of the board agreed, except for Biesiada, who said the long school day is stressful and exhausting for children at that age. With regard to adding staff, Superintendent of Schools Frank Alfano said the district will have to hire one or two additional special education teachers, which he added is a small increase compared to prior years. Several members of the board expressed concerns about the number of guidance counselors at the high school, and discussed moving a guidance counselor from one of the elementary schools to the high school. Alfano said he would ask school principals where they think additional staff are needed most. "You may think guidance counselors are absolutely necessary," Alfano said, "[but] I will talk to [high school Principal] Jim Brown and he will tell me 'I need two more math teachers.' I cannot make that decision in a vacuum." As the high school renovations project proceeds, the district will need to add at least six new teachers over time, Alfano said. Resident Donna Anonsen told the board that the high school needs additional guidance counselors, adding that any funds used in this regard would be money well spent. "The guidance counselors are overwhelmed," Anonsen said. Returning to the issue of courtesy busing, resident John Bovery said the board's decision to budget for or eliminate the item will depend on what the numbers are for the proposed budget. Resident Bob Foley told the board he does not think the matter should be voted on as a separate question again. "The town elected you to be the voice of the people and make those decisions," Foley said. Macagnone anticipates that the board will make a decision on courtesy busing by January. He encouraged parents to participate in the process at the board's regular and budget-related meetings before it is too late. "If nobody shows up," Macagnone said, "the board's interpretation is, I see no need to move on [courtesy busing]."