'We're Done!' Referendum A[
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RECEIVED 2 7 2002 CLARK, N.J., VOL. 12 NO. 38 THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2002 myc[ark.com TWO SECT Iliipi i 'We're done!' Referendum a[. vfi ALJ says goodbye to Class of 2002 coming along slowly By David Learn In his speech to fellow students, Managing Editor class President Nicholas Biglasco By David Learn The evening air was cool on June used a baseball analogy to describe Managing Editor 20 behind Arthur L. Johnson High the education students had received in The Board of Education will have to wait a while longer before it learns School, but the mood among Clark's the Clark School District, and what whether it can issue bonds to pay for school repairs. graduates was one of feverish, awaited them next. The board is hoping that state Education Commissioner William Librera will excitement. "As our seventh-inning stretch overturn Clark voters' Sept. 25 decision in a public referendum not to authorize "It's exciting!" said Matthew Mar- comes to a close, we must now focus $19.2 million in repairs and renovations to the district's facilities. cin after the ceremony. on the final innings of our academic "We're quietly optimistic," board President Joseph Papetti told concerned "It's great," chimed in Jeff careers," said Biglasco. "I have every members of the public Tuesday night. Babaian, who was standing next to confidence that each of us can and Unfortunately for those hopes, theboard isn' t as far along in the formal appe- will win." him. "It's unbelievable." al process as it might have hoped. Valedictorian Timothy Azoia com- "After all these years, I can't In fact, it hasn't even started.' pared high school graduation to his believe we're done," said Martin. "We've had a dialogue with the district" going back as far as the fall, Rich father's experiences when his family "I can't believe it's finally over," Vespucci, spokesman for the Department of Education, said Tuesday afternoon. emigrated from Portugal to take said Babaian. Like Martin, Babaian "We're sending to the district correspondence directing them as to the process advantage of the opportunities plans to attend Marist College in to follow for an appeal." afforded in the United States. Poughkeepsie, N.Y. At the board meeting Tuesday evening, Superintendent of School Paul Babaian and Martin were among "My father would have to learn a Ortenzio acknowledged the district had received the department's letter. 174 graduates to receive their diplo- completely new language in order to To build its case for an appeal, the board will have to present evidence that mas last week in a ceremony on the survive in this foreign culture," Azoia the repairs are necessary. After the board files for an appeal, the state will allow high school football field that lasted said. "Though we are not changing ' r • ' 21 days for objectors to submit any counterclaims. about an hour. Parents, friends and continents, we are now faced with a After that, a hearing will be scheduled before a judge with the Office of other family members filled the transition of our own." Administrative Law, depending on the availability of each party's attorneys. bleachers and swarmed onto the Like Biglasco before him, Azoia "What all that means is that the commissioner will order a judge to hold a asphalt path by the field. stressed the importance of education "I'm just proud of this class, proud hearing," Ortenzio said of the process. "From that, the administrative law judge and gaining knowledge — through will make a decision that will be expedited, we hope." of the kids," said Martin's father, formal education, but also through Photo By Jeff Granit Chad Martin, on the field after the Vespucci declined to project a timeline for the appeal process, but Ortenzio experience. Philip Schissler receives his diploma during Arthur L expressed hope the appeal could happen relatively soon. ceremony. Johnson High School's commencement on June 20. Students heard several speeches, "Sometimes you've got to jump off "If all goes well, and the commissioner approves it in the next two to three months, I can get the district up physically in three years," he said in a recent including some from their peers, that the cliff and build your wings on the of accomplishment, there were "She made MVP for the softball interview. "The process now is we need to get this done for the well-being of the stressed the value of education and way down," said Azoia. "Regret for parents who were facing transitions of team, and was a nominee for the community." using what they had learned. things we did can be tempered by (heir own. One such father was Town- homecoming queen," said Ferrara The appeal follows the third referendum on school repairs in two years to end "What we've learned the last few time. Regret for things we did not do ship Councilman Martin Ferrara, with obvious pride. Then the moment in a no vote. If the school district succeeds in its appeal of the referendum, years, we've learned for ourselves," can be inconsolable." whose daughter Christine Ferrara hit him and he added: "It's my baby. taxpayers would receive about $7.7 million in state aid toward the total $19.2 said salutatorian Amanda Whiting. Still, amid the accolades and sense graduated. I'm going to miss it, coming here." million bond. School board continues debate over sale of administration building By David Learn "There were some details to be worked out Road property would have eliminated the Managing Editor between the township and the school board," sFm just wondering if this is going to he one of expense of refurbishing the guidance offices. Without discussion or fanfare, the Board of said board attorney Michael Gross. "We've already decided that the Schindler Education on Tuesday approved the sale of The board discussed the proposed transfer .those runaway -projects we'll tun into•••••later\> Road is going to be sold and the superinten- the Schindler Road administration building. in closed session later Tuesday evening. — Karen Amalfe dent's office is going to be moved," said The building, appraised at $460,000, will Details of that discussion were not made Papetti. "We're moving backward." be put on public sale at an undetermined date available. ken critic of those plans, took the opportunity through a sealed-bid process. The school Board President Joseph Papetti said the $35,000 to more than $50,000, depending on Ortenzio agreed the school district might be to suggest relocating the administrative board budgeted $350,000 from the building's board should discuss the matter in public at the cost of architectural drawings and contrac- able to reduce the costs of refurbishing the offices to the Brewer facility instead, a sug- sale for its 2002-03 capital budget. the board's next meeting, scheduled for July tor fees. guidance offices by using its own mainte- 23. gestion Papetti dismissed as unworkable. nance staff, but cautioned that allocating those The board was nearly unanimous in its vote "It just seems to me that there was not a lot Mayor Sal Bonaccorso has stated he has resources would affect other areas. to sell the building, with board member Linda But for a subject no longer on the agenda, of homework done on the final cost of this plans for rooms in the Brewer facility that at Zultanky abstaining. Board member Michael the Brewer facility issue displayed a surpris- project," Amalfe said. "I'm just wondering if "I have a limited number of maintenance Timoni was absent from Tuesday's meeting. ing resiliency and surfaced during board dis- the moment are unoccupied, including a this is going to be one of those runaway pro- men to do this work. Could they do this work? Contrary to its published agenda, the school cussion on renovations to Arthur L. Johnson senior center and additional municipal func- jects we'll run into later." I don't doubt they could. Do they have time?" board did not vote on a recommendation to High School to provide new offices for the tions now served at the Public Safety Building "If there's anything running away here, we he said. "One of the things we said we would transfer the former Charles L. Brewer School guidance staff. by the high school. voted on it," interjected Papetti. do is make sure there are no changes in the to the Clark municipal government. The existing guidance offices are slated to Amalfe also raised concerns about the cost Board member Wendy Griffin also ques- schedules of students." The municipal government has leased the be converted into office space for the school of the renovations, which Business Admini- tioned the wisdom of moving the administra- The board made no formal decision on the Brewer facility from the school board for district administration. strator William Takacs and Superintendent of tive offices to the high school, arguing that issue, which it expects to revisit as more infor- years for use as the Municipal Building. Board member Karen Amalfe, an outspo- Schools Paul Ortenzio placed in the range of leaving the administration at the Schindler mation becomes available. Principal reflects on 30 years at ALJ Eatery By David Learn Managing Editor 7 think I'll miss most of all the contact with proposes For the last three decades, David Carl has had the same routine for the the staff, students and parents.' 180 days a year that school is in — David Carl changes session. By David Learn But not anymore.