BOE Panel to Release Report on Enrollment at May 3 Meeting
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Vote Tuesday, April 18 Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, April 13, 2006 OUR 116th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 15-2006 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Voters to Decide Fate of Local School Tax Levies, BOE Races By PAUL J. PEYTON mittee on Curriculum (CACE). In Scotch Plains-Fanwood, six can- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader Doug Stokes, a curriculum resource didates, including two incumbents, WESTFIELD – Area voters, along teacher in Edison, and Jane Clancy, are running for three three-year terms with others throughout the state, will an assistant kindergarten teacher at on the board of education for seats go to the polls Tuesday, April 18, to Presbyterian Nursery School in representing Scotch Plains. There are vote on local school tax levies and to Westfield and member of CACE, are no Fanwood seats up this year. In- select candidates to boards of educa- also running. cumbents BOE President Linda tions. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 Among the issues this year are stu- Nelson, whose background is in p.m. in Westfield and from 2 to 9 p.m. dent enrollment, students per class- school public relations, Norman in Scotch Plains, Fanwood, room and the selection of a new high- “Trip” Whitehouse, a division con- Mountainside and Garwood. school principal to replace the retir- troller for a steel mill based in Perth In Westfield, voters will cast bal- ing Dr. Robert Petix. Amboy, and Betty Anne Woerner, a lots on a $68,227,778 tax levy, which chief financial officer for a children’s represents a 3.85 percent increase, or non-profit organization, are all seek- $2,805,051, over last year. If the bud- ing reelection to the three full three- get passes, the school portion of taxes year terms on the BOE. would jump 14 cents per $100 of They are opposed by David assessed home valuation for an in- Gorbunoff, director of operations for crease of $253 on a home assessed at a company that gives money to $179,600. The tax levy would sup- schools and libraries nationwide for port a $79.5 million budget. Internet access and telecommunica- The total budget reflects a 4.06 tions, George Gowen, semi-retired percent increase, or $1,579,003, after 17 years as a vice president of over last year’s adopted budget. The information technology at an invest- Benjamin B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader tax levy is up $2,202,777 over last ment company, and newcomer John SPRING TIME...Blossoms sprout from the trees in a brilliant magenta glow in the park at the intersection of Mountain and year’s adopted school levy. Last Kubie. Nine-year incumbent Tho- Lawrence Avenues in Westfield last Friday. year, town voters, for the first time mas Russo, an attorney, is running in a decade, rejected the proposed unopposed for a one-year unexpired $66-million school tax levy, 1,528 seat currently held by Mr. to 1,463. The town council later Whitehouse. BOE Panel to Release Report reduced the school budget by Among the issues discussed in the $714,543, which was subsequently campaign are current negotiations approved by the BOE. BUNNY LOVE…The Westfield Lions with the Scotch Plains-Fanwood On Enrollment at May 3 Meeting Voters will also select three people Club Easter Bunny (alias Lions Presi- Board of Education, selection of a dent Reverend Lois Schembs) is pic- By GINA LEVINE-LEVY cost analysis of possibly selling the students are in the elementary schools, among a field of four candidates for tured with a young fan. The bunny will new principal at Terrill Middle School Specially Written for The Westfield Leader the board of education. Incumbent make a return visit at the annual Eas- and student enrollment. district’s Elm Street property, which the budget includes four new elemen- BOE President Anne Riegel is seek- ter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 15, at Voters will also cast ballots on a WESTFIELD — Westfield Super- houses the administrative offices, and tary teachers to keep class sizes ing her third three-year term. Also 1 p.m. at Westfield’s Mindowaskin proposed $62.1 million tax levy to intendent of Schools Dr. William relocating the offices. “within policy.” seeking reelection to a second term is Park for children up to age seven. Par- support a total spending plan of $71.4 Foley made a special appearance at “It could help reduce our expenses Some district highlights he pointed Beth Cassie, who is chairwoman of ticipants are asked to assemble in the million. If passed, Scotch Plains the Franklin Elementary School Par- and it could put a valuable ratable on out are the new phonics program in the district’s Citizen’s Advisory Com- park by 12:45 p.m. homeowners would pay $306, or 5.25 ent-Teacher Organization meeting last our tax roll,” he said. kindergarten and first grade, which percent, more than last year on the Thursday to discuss the Fiscal Year Dr. Foley said the sale, which would will extend into second grade, new average assessed home, while (FY) 2006-2007 budget and claims include the adjacent parking lot but replacement computers going into Garwood BOE Approves Fanwood residents would pay $279, of rising school enrollment. not the athletic fields, could help cover fourth grade and the new broadcast or 5.54 percent, over 2004-2005. Dr. Foley said overall enrollment, the cost of building a new school. journalism and television program at In Mountainside, voters will de- 6,030 students, is the highest it has But, he added, “at the end of the the high school. Three-Yr. Teachers Pact cide on a tax levy of $11,276,433 to been since the early 1970’s. He said day, it may not make sense … I just Dr. Foley also stressed that By MARIA WOEHR ning rollerblades, skateboards, and support the spending of first-grade enrollment is at a record think it’s my responsibility to look at Westfield’s high starting teacher sala- Specially Written for The Westfield Leader heelies (sneakers with rollerblades $13,966,844. According to BOE fig- 520 students, the town’s largest num- these things.” ries help recruit “the best people.” GARWOOD — Garwood’s Board that pop out) from school grounds for ures, the average taxpayer would ber in more than three decades. Ultimately, the decision to sell the However, one significant area of of Education (BOE) ratified a new the protection of school property. The experience an increase of $392 in Dr. Foley added that kindergarten Elm Street facility would be up to the increase was maintenance and opera- three-year contract with the local teach- new policy will be added to the stu- school taxes. The property tax levy enrollment for next year is already at board of education and would not tions, which jumped 7.2 percent. ers’ union that will give educators a dent handbook next year. represents 81 percent of the total about 350 students. And although the have to go to public vote, Dr. Foley He said roof-repair projects, as well 3.75 percent increase in salary for the “I think supervisors of events will tax revenue to support the school Citizens Advisory Committee said. He added that the board would, as maintaining the district’s 80 acres 2006-2007 school year and a 4.5 per- be pleased,” said BOE member James budget, with another 12 percent, or (CACE) will not present its official however, conduct a public meeting of property, account for much of that cent salary increase for the 2007-2008 Matheson. “There is always concern $1,659,804, coming from dissolu- report on enrollment until the May 2 on the issue and give residents the cost. and 2008-2009 school years. that a child could get hurt.” tion of the now defunct Union school board meeting at Thomas opportunity to voice their opinions. A concern of some in attendance School officials said the increase is It was announced that the BOE would County High School Regional Dis- Jefferson Elementary School, Dr. When asked where he might con- was the $15.6-million in the special included the school budget, the tax spend $35,000 on technology, with a trict. Business Administrator Foley did assure residents that based sider building a new school, Dr. Foley education budget. levy portion of which goes before significant portion devoted to replacing Roderic McLaughlin said at a meet- on these latest figures, the board will mentioned the possibility of building Dr. Foley said about 1,000 stu- voters this Tuesday, April 18. computers that are over six years old. ing in March that the dissolution have to look for additional rooms. on property already owned by the dents, or 16.6 percent, receive special “The children come first,” said The majority of the machines to be funds have kept the school taxes “The biggest problem will be the district. education services. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Will- replaced are in the computer lab. from rising more for the average intermediate schools,” he said. He mentioned that there is vacant Westfield has about 100 students in iam Murphy. “I am happy that the “Forty percent of our machines are assessed home in the borough by Dr. Foley said that whatever plan is property on the Jefferson and Wash- “out-of-district” placement at a cost board and teachers have reached an ancient,” Mr. Murphy said. “We $2,016 over the past few years.