Your Turn Disappointed with board's behavior, decisions Barbara Kilcomons Guest Column Many people know that I have an interest and concern for my community. I attend many Sayreville town meetings and Board of Education meetings, especially since they are spending more than 60 percent of my tax dollars. I have definitely lost respect for this Board of Education because the structure of this board is solely to serve the administrators, not the children or the resident taxpayers. When people invest their time and energy and have no political agenda, they should not be subject to any type of disrespect or ridicule from a board member or administrators. Many residents that attend the meetings feel that no defense can be offered by any member of the Sayreville Board of Education or administrators for engaging in this type of conduct and behavior. I have observed administrators sneering and making faces at the public who question or voice their opinion. In fact, even a candidate had to endure this type of childlike behavior at the Board of Education candidates' forum. We elect board members to make prudent decisions to ensure that our tax dollars are spent wisely and efficiently. I find myself in a position of wondering who really is in charge, because their attitudes are as arrogant as their motives are obvious. One of my major concerns is the way board meetings are conducted. There are closed agenda meetings prior to the regular meetings. At the regular meeting the superintendent reads his report, then the board casts their vote without the public hearing any open dialogue. This closed agenda meeting leads me to question if this is in violation of the state's Open Public Meetings Act. Under the law, governing bodies must inform the public of what is to be discussed in private and why it is not appropriate for a public session. Only discussions of pending litigation, labor contracts or personnel can be discussed in closed session. Their decision process is extremely questionable - namely, the high school construction project which has become an embarrassment to the community. The architect admitted at a public meeting that he neglected to put in firewalls, which are required by state code, in his drawings for the new addition. Now he wants to charge the taxpayers several hundred thousand dollars over the original $47 million referendum for his error. At the meeting, I questioned if he was the same architect for the Arleth and Samsel school additions and if firewalls were included? He replied yes and admitted his error for omitting them for the high school. Could this be the reason why the building construction office did not issue the permits? Where was the superintendent and assistant superintendent? Where was the business administrator, director of facilities and the board members when all of this was taking place? At a meeting, it was suggested that the board consider hiring a public relations firm for $20,000 to enhance their image to the public. This board continues to hire and create jobs for upper management, abolished courtesy busing, eliminated educational field trips for lower grades, teachers had to start the school year with no paper, and students have old books. The high school has a discipline problem in spite of hiring several security guards, a part-time disciplinarian and paying for a full-time police officer to be on site. And they want to hire a P.R. firm? I was so irate that my reply to them was to make the right decisions, then the public will begin to trust them and their budget. This money would be better spent on the children, not the board's image. Respect and trust is earned, not a given. Barbara Kilcomons is a resident of Sayreville.