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Candidates talk budget, Lombardi, full-day K
Nine BOE hopefuls share views on range of issues at forum
BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer
Persistent. Dedicated. Passionate. Honest. Knowledgeable. Caring. Positive. Determined. Integrity.
These were the words Old Bridge Board of Education candidates chose to describe themselves at a forum March 31.
Other questions fielded from the public allowed the nine board hopefuls present - out of 12 who filed for the three available seats in the April 15 election - to elaborate in more than one word on what they are offering to bring to the school district.
Possibly the biggest responsibility of any school board is formulating the district's annual budget. Attempting to strike a balance between meeting the needs of students while being responsible to taxpayers can present difficult decisions for board members. Several questions posed by residents demonstrated their concerns over the issue.
Though the board has proposed a zero tax increase in the 2008-09 school budget, which goes to voters next week, some took issue with the fact that taxes did not decrease as the result of additional funding from the state.
"I take exception to someone making a statement about our proposed budget based on hearsay and not much else," said board President Frank Piccillo, one of two incumbent candidates.
The district received a 20 percent increase in state aid this year, totaling $7.8 million. Of that amount, $5.4 million is allocated to capital projects in the schools, Piccillo said. Aside from repairs to roofs, boilers and building facades, funds will go toward a daycare center, improvements at Lombardi Field and replacing aging textbooks.
"I was appalled when my son came home from grammar school with a health book from1986," said candidate DonnaAndriani, a science teacher who has instructed students from pre-kindergarten to college.
Andriani pointed out that while she too would have liked to see taxes decrease, there were a number of issues that had gone unaddressed because past budgets were voted down by taxpayers. She also said the state requires that the additional aid monies to be used in the schools.
"The state of New Jersey does not believe in saving money for a rainy day," Andriani said.
Since Old Bridge schools were spending less per pupil than was allotted by the state, aid received is to be spent on district needs, according to Piccillo.
He said the projects represent one-time expenditures that will not need to be revisited for the next eight to 15 years.
Fred Colabella, the other incumbent candidate, agreed, saying there are major repairs needed.
"Some of itmight be preventivemaintenance," Colabella said.
Another candidate, Owen Henry, said the school budget should be reduced by the same amount that state aid is being reduced to the Township of Old Bridge as a whole. Henry owns a contracting business in town, and said he hopes to use his expertise in order to spend district dollars prudently.
According to Henry, three years ago, the township library had a leaky roof. One contractor told officials it needed to be replaced, and gave a high-priced estimate, Henry said. Henry volunteered to take a look at it, and discovered that it needed a few relatively minor repairs. As a result, the township saved a large chunk ofmoney, he said.
"I will be on the roof with the roofers. I will be in the boiler room with the pipe fitters," Henry said. "Let's do our homework here, people. Let's make sure we have all our ducks in a row."
Candidate FrankWeber, a former board member, said while there are several areas of the budget he is "not thrilled" with, one stood out in particular.He said the $2.2million increase fromlast year's transportation costs are cause for question.
"It's not transportation fuel, which the district only budgeted for a 10-percent increase this year,"Weber said. "It appears to be a place where money gets hidden to be used later in the year, where it needs to be used."
Weber served on the board for seven years, including a term as president from 2000-01.He lost the April 2002 election and has made unsuccessful bids to return since that time.
Stan Gendlin, vice chairman of theMiddlesex County Young Republicans, held to his stance that taxes could have been decreased this year.
PTA members moderating the forumallowed Piccillo to address Gendlin's comments. Piccillo accused Gendlin of providing vague answers without elaborating in detail.
"Every penny of that was spent for our children," Piccillo said.
Several members of the public called out to the moderators, asserting that the event was not meant to be a debate.
The moderators allowed Gendlin to respond, later apologizing for straying from the proper format of the event.
"[Lombardi] Field should have been fixed two years ago," Gendlin said.
He went on to say that money was left over in the budget beyond the improvements needing to bemade, and said he was insulted by Piccillo's comments.
Candidates Mark Palehonki and Pradyuman Patel both stated that they had not been able to study the budget in order to comment on it as of yet.
Laura Harvey, a candidate andmember of PTAs and three Board of Education Committees, said a lack of state aid in the past has not allowed for needs in the district to be addressed. She also stressed the importance of fixing Lombardi Field, a concern shared by most of the candidates.
A question submitted from the public asked the candidates to choose which project was a greater priority: Lombardi Field or full-day kindergarten.
The football stadium has not been updated since it was built in the 1970s, and is in need of a number of improvements. Last month, the Board of Education attempted to engage in a shared services agreement with the township to fund the $3 million project, but the Township Council voted it down.
"We're going tomove forward, and we're committed to completing the project," Piccillo said.
School officials plan to begin the first phase of the project, earmarking $1.4 million to replace the grass with synthetic turf, and replace the track surrounding the field.
The full-day kindergarten program has been a discussion item for several years. Superintendent of Schools Simon Bosco touted the educational value involved in such a program, and laid out research findings regarding cost in February 2007. The minimum anticipated start-up for full-day kindergarten would be around $1.175 million, including staff and supplies, and assuming that no additional facilities would be needed, he said at the time.
Though Gendlin said he sees the importance of both projects, but he took issue with school officials for allowing students to continue playing on a field that he said has been unsafe for some time.
"The safety of our children should be priority number one," Gendlin said.
Andriani agreed.
"This is an accident waiting to happen," Andriani said. "I would rather see the money spent now than have to spend $7,8,9 million on a lawsuit."
While she did say Lombardi Field should take precedence, Andriani stressed the importance of a full-day kindergarten program, saying it provides a good transition between home and a structured learning environment.
Andriani cited the kindergarten program in Colts Neck as a good model for the township to follow. After a half-day kindergarten, afternoon enrichment programs that parents pay for are offered, she said.
Patel, who said one of his goals is to eliminate district debt, agreed that parents should have to pay for such a program, and said a referendum should be held to decide the issue.
In discussions regarding the kindergarten program, school officials said it would be decided by public referendum.
Henry also said it is important to determine whether parents support such amove, adding that the educational value of a fullday kindergarten must be established. A half-day program for children of that age could be more beneficial, he said.
"The Lombardi Field is a no-brainer," Henry said. "[It] should have been fixed years ago."
According to Henry, district officials should reach out to parents and alumni for help in funding the project.
Weber agreed withmuch of what Henry said about the full-day kindergarten, saying a half-day program might be better for some, and the matter should be decided by the community. The more urgent issue, he said, is Lombardi Field.
"I think that should be done at all Godspeed," Weber said.
Harvey also said a referendumis needed to decide whether to fund full-day kindergarten, but no cost has been established for the project yet.
"I do know that the state came in and said they would give us 40 percent," Harvey said. "But 40 percent of what?"
According to Piccillo, who is a school principal in Jersey City, the state ismoving toward mandating both pre-kindergarten and full-day kindergarten programs.
"This initiative is critical inmaintaining a competitive edge over our neighboring districts," Piccillo said.
Regarding Lombardi Field, he said the board's Shared Services Committee is looking to local businesses to become sponsors at the stadium.
Colabella said through various events like outdoor plays, the refurbishment of the field will eventually generate income for the district,making it evenmore of a viable endeavor.
While he said he supports the concept of a full-day kindergarten, Colabella said he does not believe it is up to the board to decide the issue.
"Our children start learning when they're in pre-school," Colabella said adding, "it will be the taxpayer that ultimately decides whether a full-day kindergarten will come into town."
Palehonki, a member of the high school PTSA, did not see either project as taking precedence over the other.
"I think both concerns are very big in the township," Palehonki said.
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