Dr. Gerry Crisonino, Berkeley Heights BOE Candidate, Speaks Out

With the public school election for the coming year about to take place, one of the candidates for the Berkeley Heights Board of Education spoke with Patch to address several key issues that the district faces going forward.

Dr. Gerry Crisonino, who is running for one of the two vacant spots on the Berkeley Heights Board of Education, currently sits on the board and has done so for the past seven years. Over that time, Crisonino states that he has witnessed the board handle many challenging and difficult decisions, and feels that his experience will best assist the community and school district alike in treading uneasy financial waters.

“Due to changing economic times, we see new challenges that will require outcome choices based on experience, knowledge, and a proven willingness to make the hard decisions,” said Crisonino, who also stated that the district continues to look into alternative revenue sources, including rental fees for use of Governor Livingston High School facilities and the potential sale of advertisement on school buses.

Crisonino also plans to focus on maintaining the quality of the district’s education, all while adjusting the school district to new curriculum requirements and increasing class sizes. This is a step, he says, that includes everybody in the district and the surrounding community alike.

“We are fortunate to have some of the best educators in the state, and I continue to support targeted professional development, differentiated supervision, and parental and student feedback to facilitate improved instruction,” said Crisonino.

The community also will have the chance to vote on the district’s 2011-12 budget this Wednesday, April 27. This is a budget that, if approved, will account for less than a one percent increase in homeowner taxes throughout the township, which is well-below the state-imposed two-percent cap.

“This year’s budget is a result of many hours of hard word of board members, administrators, PTO representatives, and dedicated community members,” said Crisonino.

This year’s budget comes, however, off the heels of some very tough decision-making by the current Board of Education.

“Through the identification of cost reduction efficiencies and the restructuring of educational delivery, we believe our students will continue to lead their peers in all standardized measures,” said Crisonino. “Unfortunately, this budget also represents eliminations that, while not directly effecting student achievement, impact programs that are important to many students. However, due to the necessity of doing more with only one-fifth of our entitled state aid, tough decisions had to be made.”

Also included in Wednesday’s election will be a vote on the two vacant Board of Education seats. Crisonino and current Board President Paul Beisser are both running for re-election, and are being challenged by local resident Ronald Davison.

While the other two candidates could not be reached for comment, Dr. Crisonino seems to put an emphasis on public input in his plan to make the Board of Education run efficiently.

“As a member of a Board of Education, we are merely the community's representative, and thus hearing from the public is a necessity,” said Crisonino. “Planning, innovative ideas and initiatives, and cooperatively working with all stakeholders is what I believe will ensure that our excellent school district survives, (and) indeed thrives, in the challenging years ahead.”

(Editor's note: Patch has reached out to all  three Berkeley Heights BOE candidates in order to get their thoughts on the April 27th school board election. There are three candidates running for two seats - Gerard Crisonino and Paul Beisser are the incumbents; Ronald Davison is the challenger. Patch will have articles on the other candidates as well when they contact us.)