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Schools

Board of Education Moves Election to November, Eliminates Public Budget Vote

Residents will no longer be able to vote on school budgets at or below the two percent cap and the school board election has been moved to November.

The New Providence Board of Education joined a host of other New Jersey school districts in moving their school board election from April to November last night. The board also eliminated public voting on school budgets that remain under a two percent cap.

A reduced board passed a resolution 4-0 in favor of the election date change during the regular session meeting at the New Providence High School. Board members Adam Smith, Susan Vogel and Nancy Opperthauser were not present.

The decision to present a resolution was at the urging of State Board of Education officials after Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation on Jan. 17 that would allow districts to no longer seek approval for school budgets that meet the state's spending cap.

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New Providence Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Miceli, who is very much in favor of the change, said he anticipates four key benefits: potentially larger community participation in elections, the ability to save New Providence taxpayers $15,000 a year (the cost of the April election), an opportunity for districts to exceed the two percent cap by offering the excess for a vote in November, and the ability to perhaps revert back to the former system after four years by passing a resolution to do so.

For example, if a district's budget is at or under the two percent cap, that base budget would be approved by the board, put out to the county office to receive approval by the Executive County Superintendent and would take effect July 1. Anything in excess of the two percent cap would be put on the ballot for a vote in November.

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"It seemed to me that there is a lot of flexibility," Miceli said. "In some ways it provides for a lot of the same but at the same time, provides the benefit of saving some taxpayer dollars, and allows the board and administration to get back to focusing on student achievement and what is happening in classrooms."

Board President John Wolak said few see how much time is truly spent on elections, which is a diversion from attention on, for example, technology and curriculum where administrators' attention should be focused.

"The staff and the most senior people in the administration [spend a great deal of time] to educate the voters with respect to budget development, getting the appropriate approvals and perform a lot of the various things with respect to the vote," Wolak said.

One resident, however, wasn't sure it was a good idea to eliminate the public vote.

"If the board meets its budget, what would stop it from turning around to say, 'if you want [something extra in the school district], you'll need to pay for it?" Annmarie Zoufaly asked.

Wolak said it is important to emphasize that the board has historically been extremely conservative and responsible with budgeting.

"We do not play games in terms of the types of things you're talking about," he said to Zoufaly. "We have passed budgets that were under budget, over budget or at zero increase 21 of the last 22 years. I think that reflects the great relationship that the board has with the community in terms of being fiscally responsible."

Wolak added that the other elements of the budget process will remain the same. Residents will still have an opportunity to attend budget hearings and Superintendent Forums to provide feedback on any budget well before it is submitted to the County Superintendent's Office for approval.

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