Five School Board Candidates Voice Views on Range of Topics

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Volume 114 , Number 14 THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2000 60 Cents Five school board candidates voice views on range of topics Public involvement in the budget process and the size of the budget surplus, student stress and chal- lenges facing the school board were among a wide range of subjects covered last Thursday night by the five candidates seeking election this month to three positions on the Board of Education. The five candidates, incumbents Ronni Schuman-Brown and Janice Casserly, along with David Jones, Marcy Kadin and Renay Zamloot, all making their first run in a board election, were speaking last week at a candidates’ forum sponsored by the Conference of Parents and Teachers and the League of Women Voters. The forum drew an audience of approximately 50 persons to the Education Center meeting room. Last week’s forum provided sev- eral opportunities for the candidates to define themselves and, in so doing, each appeared to emphasize the differences between themselves and others in the school board race. Mr. Jones stressed his varied background in the aerospace indus- try, teaching and human resources as he said he would bring a sense of innovation to the board. Ms. Casser- ly emphasized her business perspective and said she would use the CANDIDATES’ FORUM— Candidates for the Board of Education made their first joint public appearance process of comparing “best prac- last Thursday night when they spoke at a forum sponsored by the Conference of Parents and Teachers tices”—rating programs in use in and the League of Women Voters. From left are Renay Zamloot, Marcy Kadin, David Jones, Janice other school districts before consid- Casserly and Ronni Schuman-Brown. ering them for use here. Ms. Zamloot pointed to her work burdening our taxpayers.” ly 10 years ago. meetings were issues raised by the within the schools on special educa- Discussion at Thursday’s meeting Ms. Schuman-Brown said the audience. Ms. Casserly said that tion and Increase the Peace. Run- about the budget centered more on board is aware of the surplus prob- while the minutes of board meetings ning for the school board, she said, the budget process than any specific lem. She pointed out the board record only what “officially” tran- is “a natural extension of the work I programs or costs. But, while rejected the option of including spires, all non-confidential materials am currently doing for our school addressing the budget surplus, Mr. repairs—such as emergency work put before the board were accessible district.” Ms. Kadin described her- Jones called the 1.5 percent surplus on the ceilings of the middle school to the public at the school system’s figure “dangerously low.” If the dis- gym—in the April 18 school financ- administrative offices. Ms. Schu- Staff photo by Eveline Speedie self as “fair and full of conscience.” Besides changing the perception that trict’s bond rating wasn’t linked to ing referendum. man-Brown said the board records REACHING FOR SPRING—Checking out the flowering fruit trees the budget is “a done deal,” she said township finances, he said, “We Ms. Casserly said the board went and reports what is legally required in Taylor Park Thursday were Freida Choy and her 1-year-old she would work to “make Trenton would have lost our (high) bond rat- through the budget line-by-line, and suggested upcoming board son, Alexander, 1. aware of how unfair many of its ing.” delaying or deferring some capital agendas be posted in newspapers. mandates are.” Ms. Kadin said the surplus could expenses and had actually boosted Ms. Zamloot said the school dis- Ms. Schuman-Brown outlined her be increased by cutting budget the surplus by half a percentage trict’s web page should be utilized in work evaluating curriculum on the “fluff,” but reiterated her contention, point, but “then came the gym prob- posting the minutes of sessions. Ms. Sign ban proposal board’s program committee and said “It’s not clear what’s in the budget.” lem….” Casserly took that suggestion a step the board faced the challenge of She called for reestablishment of the How to provide the public with further as she said a live web camera “maintaining the quality of a top- citizens budget advisory board greater information on board actions could carry board meetings. splits Committee 2-2 flight school system without unduly which was abandoned approximate- and how to record and report board Continued on Page 14 A proposed ban on the erection of of Mayor Becker operates a land- contractors’ signs on the lawns of scaping business here and would be An interview with Janice Casserly township homes—an action favored covered by provisions of the pro- by three of the 5-member Township posed measure. Committee when it was first pro- Without Mayor Becker taking a posed two weeks ago—is apparently role in the discussion—and ulti- ‘My profile is somewhat different’ dead. mately casting a vote—the Commit- Committee members Tuesday tee is deadlocked on the issue. quitting.” spoken in public) is probably not night split 2-to-2 as they considered Favoring the ban are Committee- By Harry Trumbore Ms. Casserly is the senior director strategic of me,” she said, “but I’m an ordinance drafted by Municipal women Linda Z. Seelbach and Mary of Human Resources at Fitch IBCA, not a calculating person.” Attorney Roger Clapp which would, F. McNett; opposing the measure are Janice Casserly looks at running an international bond rating agency. While the budget process has been if adopted, bar the signs. Committeemen Salvatore J. Bate for a second term on the Board of “My profile is somewhat different criticized be members of the public Mayor Elaine Becker, originally a and Thomas C. McDermott. Education in the same way she looks from a lot of people on the board,” candidates challenging her for her member of the Committee majority For the immediate future, the fate at a lot of things—from a business she told The Item during a recent seat, Ms. Casserly defends the when the ban was initially dis- of the proposed sign prohibition is in perspective. interview. “I’m looking at things board, pointing out the format of the cussed, recused herself from the dis- the hands of the Planning Board. “If I didn’t run, it’d be like train- from a business perspective, in budget is mandated by the state. cussion at Tuesday’s meeting. A son Continued on Page 27 ing for a job for three years, then objective terms. I think it makes a “We also started the process earlier good board when we have different this year,” she said, “and I think we strengths and weaknesses. When I gave out a lot of information to the hire someone, I’m not looking for public.” someone just like me, I want some- She said she would have no prob- one who’ll complement my skills.” lem opening up the process to the ———————————— public early at the committee level, Fourth in a series of interviews but she doesn’t believe many people with the five candidates for the would actually take advantage of the Board of Education. opportunity to participate in initial ————————————— number-crunching. “I think people Ms. Casserly is different from are more interested in the final Janice Casserly most board members of recent years result,” she said. in another way. “Not having chil- On the subject of special educa- to be appropriate.” She said she dren, I think I’m able to have a very tion, Ms. Casserly is equally candid. believes the district’s integrated neutral view of things,” she said. “We have a responsibility to all preschool program meets the needs “Two-thirds of the community the children,” she said. “Our com- for special education students. have no kids in the system,” she munity has high expectations (of the “Another school system was in to continued, “so they don’t benefit school system) and the special needs look at (our program) this week. But directly, but a good school system is parents are no different. I understand that the parents of spe- good for the community.” “My understanding is that there’s cial needs children would want bet- Ms. Casserly virtually walked into no specific special ed curriculum, ter. That’s true across the board. The the job three years ago. A graduate that for each child the program has bar is very high.” of Seton Hall law school where, she Continued on Page 27 said, community service was emphasized, she ran for one of three board seats and was elected along The inside story with Ronni Schuman-Brown and incumbent Corinne Errico in an Millburn High School’s Classified ...... 22-24 uncontested race. stage band is heading for Coming events...... 4 She is chairwoman of the board’s concert date at Disney Editorial ...... 4 health and physical education, World. See Page 3. Entertainment...... 8, 9 finance and policy committees. An Joel Weingarten’s bid for Movies...... 8 admittedly “quiet member” at the Obituaries...... 6 Staff photo by Jim Connelly board’s public meetings, Ms. Congress wins backing from Religious news...... 6 LACROSSE TEAM CAPTURES OPENER—Graham Riley (9) of Millburn High School goes after the Casserly said her major impact on Union County GOP. Story, ball during Saturday afternoon’s 8-5 defeat of Chatham. Game story, additional photo can be found the board is through her work on its Page 5. Social ...... 7 on Page 15. committees. Sports ...... 15-17 “In retrospect, it (not being out-

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