BOE Urges Residents to Voice Opinions at Friday Meeting

The Board of Education took time during its regular meeting on Tuesday to ask the public to make its voice heard at a special meeting the Borough Council is having regarding the defeated school budget on Friday night.

"We are strongly encouraging all of our parents to be aware of these meetings and, if at all possible, attend," Superintendent Dr. Richard Noonan said. "And we're reminding our parents that it's important to bring the interests of our students front and center to these deliberations, as really important decisions are being made."

Noonan was also referring to a second meeting, a joint one that will take place on Tuesday, May 18 during the BOE's regularly scheduled meeting. However, that meeting will be more to finalize the budget and the board is suggesting residents make Friday's meeting the priority.

Friday's meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at Bayley-Ellard, Room 320.

Noonan and BOE President Lisa Ellis made a point to bring up specifics about the budget numbers as the home stretch leading to the May 19 deadline for the council to decide on a new budget number approaches.

"The budget, as presented, was also half a million dollars less in total than last year's budget," Ellis said.

She also said that they have made sure to tell the council that they have applied much of the district's surplus to this budget in order to prevent deeper cuts.

She said the process has been a very cooperative one, but "we have not, however, to date received a clear indication from them as to what their final thought process will be."

Ellis said the board is willing to build on the shared service opportunities with the borough, and that this budget process still provides an opportunity to continue to provide quality education. She finished by asking for the continued support of the residents and council.

"It's been a disappointing year with regard to the support the district and students receive have received from Trenton," Noonan said. "We just want to make sure the interest of the parents and students will be represented."

BRAMNICK MISSES MEETING

District 21 Assemblyman Jon Bramnicck (R-Westfield) was originally scheduled to appear at Tuesday night's meeting.

However, the board said he called at about an hour and a half before the start of the meeting to say he couldn't attend, as he was in another meeting with Gov. Chris Christie.

"Hopefully we will be able to reschedule him again at another time," Ellis said. "I'm sure he has an e-mail address if you have things to send his way. I know I will be."