Voting in school election is every citizens’ responsibility

I am a fourth-grade teacher of social studies in Sayreville. I try to teach my students the value of the USA’s democracy and how fortunate we are that we, the citizens, run the country through voting. Yet, I have learned that many of our residents do not even know that the school budget is voted upon each April and that without parental support, it is likely that the budget will be voted down again this year. I have heard every excuse when trying to encourage people to vote for our school budget: “I am too busy” (Who isn’t? And it takes just a few moments.); “One vote doesn’t count” (Yes, it certainly can change the outcome); “I don’t want my property taxes to go up” (Then your property values will go down even more, as good schools are a huge factor in that determination).

Just as a brief overview as to what you have to do to vote since you must start the process now: One must be registered at least a month in advance, just as one would register for a class in college or for a sport for their child. You can’t show up to a voting center unless you are on the approved list. Forms can be obtained at Borough Hall, or I will be happy to help out anyone who e-mails me at jpentek@sayrevillek12.net. You then get a postcard back in the mail, telling you where you will vote in April. If you can’t vote because you will not be in town on Election Day, I can also help you get absentee ballots, but you must register first, now. Please don’t put this paper down and put it off, or you may forget.

Sayreville parents had a lot to be disappointed in this year: less courtesy busing, eliminated field trips, etc. But there is only one reason: Not enough of us got out to vote. If the school budget fails again in April, next year, what money will we have to work with for our schools then, after two consecutive failures? This is a democracy and we run it, so we must take the responsibility. Our family was not affected by the busing issue, but my Catholic school daughter delivered 2,000 fliers and made hundreds of reminder phone calls because we know we have an obligation to this town. So do you all. So, get registered, get others in town registered now before it’s too late. If only every person who has a child in the schools (or whom believes in Sayreville and wants it to remain a good place to live, or whomever had their own children educated through a public system) voted yes in April, we’d pass in a big way and show the world we believe in our students and future community leaders.

Register now. Vote yes in April. Say yes for Sayreville students.

Joan Pentek

Sayreville