Now incorporating New Providence-Berkeley Heights Dispatch Summit # Herald ... Summit's only real newspaper VOLUME 100 NO. 35 Saturday, March 29,1986 Price: 25' Inquiry by Civil Rights Commission marks end of school passport practice SUMMIT--The schools' prac- 'Where did you go to school last that the children get their educa- "Some of them would register tice of asking some students and year?'" tion, and they will," she said. under a relative's Summit ad- parents for passports during the Local resident Alicia Domizi "The superintendent was very dress," he added. registration process has been end- had attended a commission cooperative, once he knew what "Our attorney notified us last ed, according to Superintendent meeting and asked why Hispanic was happening," Burgmeyer week and suggested that we not of Schools Richard Fiander. students in particular were being said. ask for passports unless there The practice came into ques- asked for their passports when The practice of asking for were no other vehicle," for deter- tion after an inquiry from the registering for school; her inquiry passports "was an easy way for mining a prospective student's local Civil Rights Commission. prompted the commission to us to get a whole lot of informa- age, he said. "We did have a practice that in write to the Board of Education. tion and to attempt to establish "There are less controversial effect directed the people pro- Fiander said it wasn't only residency," Fiander said. ways of determining residency," cessing the registration petitions Hispanic students who had been "We have a very tight process, also, said Fiander. "For instance, to check passports of people who asked for their passports, but for registration," said the a driver's license," he said. were coming in from another anyone who might be coming superintendent. The "tight pro- country in order to help us from another country: "We ask cess" is necessary, he said, Certain passports, Fiander understand them, the ages involv- everybody," he said. because "Years ago, we had said, indicate whether or not a ed, and the immunization found a number of instances the holder has the right to work records," Fiander said. Kathryn Burgmeyer, chair- where youngsters were enrolled in this country, and if so, whether woman of the Civil Rights Com- when they were not residents of that right is temporary or not. Asked what would prompt the mission, said, "Personally, 1 am the Summit district." Similarly, he said, passports registrars to ask if a student were very satisfied with the response," "We had people from Irv- would indicate whether or not a coming from another country, to the commission's letter of in- ington, people from Plainfield child had the right to attend Fiander replied, "We always ask, quiry. "Our main concern was and Newark," Fiander said. public schools. Board of School Estimate o.k!s $15.4 million budget SUMMIT-The Board of tinue certain classes even if there total budget; administrative costs transporation costs. School Estimate approved a aren't as many students taking account for 3.4 percent. Cost of utilities has also push- $15.4 million school budget for the course, because they believe "Schools are a people ed the school budget up, accor- FRANKLIN SCHOOL SECOND GRADER Jennifer Ambrose examines an old Iro 1986-87 at its Tuesday meeting. it's the schools' responsibility to business," said William Rosen, ding to Kessler. "Over the past stove in the Americana section of the Morris Museum of Arts and Sciences, Jer "If you compare the budget provide options," such as chairman of the Board of Educa- five years," he said, "Our nifer and her fellow classmates recently took a field trip to the museum. (Phoi years 1981-82 and 1986-87, the business preparatory and voca- tion's Operations Committee. telephone bill has gone up 79 per- by Margaret Whitehead.) decline in enrollment has been 26 tional courses. "The vast majority of the budget cent, and our electric bill has percent," said Business Ad- The same applies to goes to pay people. Any in- gone up 109 percent." ministrator Harold Kessler. distributing costs over a smaller crease, especially an increase we Space usage committee "As a school system gets number ofteachers, said Kessler. had recently, requires a reduction 1 The Board of Education will Forum to compare smaller, the cost per student goes Since the 1981-82 school year, he in the number of things or peo- • meet Tuesday, 6pm, at Wilson up," said Kessler. "It costs a cer- said, "The dollar figure for ple. We've had to do both." School to clarify the charge of the tain amount just to run the teacher salaries hs gone up 35 The board cut about $100,000 Space Use Committee. Accord'ng elected and appointed school, and when you distribute percent over many fewer from the original budget for to Superintendent of Schools that cost among fewer students, teachers." The new budget plans equipment requested by the Richard Fiander, the committee the cost per student goes up," he a cut of 14-16 teachers from the schools. has requsted clarification of its school boards continued. system. The board also had to contend charge. "For instance," said Kessler, Teachers salaries amount to with a $227,000 hike in insurance It is expected that formal ac- "the system may want to con- approximately 60 percent of the costs, and a $55,000 increase in tion will be taken at the meeting. SUMMJT-Local residents are in open forum," said Pel invited lo exchange views on "The one-party system in Su elected as opposed to appointed mit tends to stifle discussion i school boards at a public forum block the development of creat Falzarano ends quest for the real thing on Thursday. solutions." The city currently has an ap- "The timing of this isi pointed board with members forum couldn't be better," s SUMMIT--Anthony Falzarano pect to use somebody else's pro- more." According to here," said Bottelli. chosen by the mayor. Pearl. "The Board of Educat: said he wanted to go for the real perty to improve your own," she Roger Mchner, attorney for "Facilitating private develop- Communities that vote for is approaching a critical ti thing in renovating his building, added. Falzarano, ''.. .brickface-type ment is not, in this case, a com- their school boards also vote for period. It struggles with declin but has decided to settle for a "He (Falzarano) can use treatments need replacement ap- pelling public purpose," the their school budgets each year. enrollment and a growing def "take" brickfacing instead. something like stucco or surfac- proximately every 15 years." councilman added. Panelists for the discission will tion to private schools, yet hai Falzarano wanted to use real ing," material to put a new face Legal issue Falzarano has contended that be Dr. Vito Gagliardi, county maintain its high quality wl brick--four inches wide--in on the building, said Bottelli. "There are situations where his renovation does serve a public superintendent; Herbert Green, confronting increasing costs. renovating his building at 417 Falzarano said, "I wanted to for compelling public purposes, purpose, saying that the building executive director of the Public "Meanwhile," he continu Broad Street. However, his put the highest quality materials the city can vacate street's and lots was an "eyesore" when he Education Institute at Rutgers "the public awaits the may( building is at, and sometimes into this building. But I'm not of things. But essentially, there's bought it and that improvements University; Mark Finkelstein, appointments of the new bo over, the property line that going to tight for the lacing any no public purpose being served to the building would give the vice-president of the New members. It seems appropriati separates his land from city land- neighborhood an esthetic boost. Brunswick Board of Education; ask how the board memt -the four-inch brick would have Falzarano's lawyer, Roger and Roberta Francis, member of should be selected to serve Si required a four-inch encroach- Mehner, ciicd a 1985 Morristown the Chatham Borough Board of mit best." ment onto city property. Council establishes case where a private developer Education. Ann Grimes, who was part c No such encroachment will be was granted a five-inch encroach- The forum, sponsored by the campaign in the mid-1970s possible, according to Common recycling committee ment for brickfacing purposes. Municipal Democratic Commit- maintain an appointed boa Council. "That doesn't set any precedent SUMMIT — Common Council for grants to assist recycling ef- tee, will begin at Hpm in the said, "We've already been c "We've been advised by our for us," Bottelli said, adding, Unitarian Church on the corner this issue thoroughly." attorney that we don't have has established a Recycling Ad- forts. "Who knows why they granted of W aid ron and Springfield Also, she said, "Those c< jurisdiction to grant such an en- visory Committee composed of Other activities will include it? Any arrangement can be made Avenues. According lo Eric munities that vote on their boa croachment without compelling two members of the Common conducting an annual Recycling between a city and an individual. Pearl, committee chairman, the have an average turn-out public purpose," said Coun- Council, two members of Sum- Week to raise community In our case, we have been given forum is apolitical, and meant about seven percent. That ma cilman Richard Bottelli. mit Recyclers, Inc., and five awareness, and publicizing and legal advice that we don't have only to air the issues. "Critical it very easy for one small spe In facl, Bottelli said, "There other citizens.