MONROE- All three seek re-electon
By: Nick D’Amore
MONROE Three incumbents are seeking re-election to the Board of Education.
The candidates board President Joe Homoki, Kathy Kolupanowich and Kathy Leonard said they are looking forward to continuing their service to the board and continuing to work on such as issues as growth, new facilities and strategic planning.
The district is expecting about 350 new students in the 2002-2003 school year. To accommodate the existing and projected growth, an ad hoc committee has recommended a bond referendum for a new high school, converting the existing high school into a middle school and converting Applegarth School into an elementary school.
Voters will get their say on the candidates and on the $47.91 budget at school elections April 16.
Joe Homoki served as board president this year and said he wants to stay on the board to see to fruition much of the progress the board has made. He has served 7, non-consecutive years on the board.
He said it is important for the board to have continuity to carry out its goals for next year.
"There are projects we’ve identified that I’d like to see brought to their conclusion," he said.
Mr. Homoki said the most pressing issue facing the board in the 2002-2003 school year is increased enrollment.
"We’ve already taken some initial steps on it, such as the demographic report. It will all play out when we plan our facilities," he said.
He said relations between the teachers and board have improved and he looks forward to seeing further improvements.
Mr. Homoki said voters should support the district’s $47.91 million spending plan because it focuses on real education needs and its 7-cent tax rate hike is lower compared to many other area districts.
"It’s a very fiscally responsible budget that focuses on the needs of students. We were able to keep the tax rate down. Around Central Jersey, districts have seen tremendous increases. I think keeping ours down to a 7-cent increase is excellent," he said.
Mr. Homoki said that voters should also keep in mind that 82 percent of the budget consists of year-to-year expenses that were part of the budget before the board even begins reviewing the budget.
Kathy Kolupanowich said she would like to continue on the board to keep working on the important decisions the board is facing. Ms. Kolupanowich is nearing the end of her first term on the board.
"I think it’s a very exciting time in Monroe. We are going to have to make some important decisions in the future," she said.
"A board member affects the life of a child and I think that’s a positive thing," she said.
The primary issue she is concerned with is getting a bond referendum for a new high school passed.
"After the budget passes, we will need to concentrate all our efforts to get a referendum passed," said Ms. Kolupanowich.
She said the budget should be passed because it emphasizes children and instruction.
"There isn’t anything that should not be in that budget, nothing that people could consider fluff," she said.
"To cut a penny out of the budget means cutting a half a million (dollars). It’s very difficult then, because you’re cutting into teachers and books."
Kathy Leonard said she would like to serve another term on the board to be a part of dealing with the issues facing the board in the next school year. Ms. Leonard is nearing the end of her second, three-year term.
"I feel like I can contribute to good solutions," she said.
Among the projects she is looking forward to addressing is the district strategic planning.
In February, the district formed committees to study education, facilities, demographics and community relations, under the supervision of the New Jersey School Boards Association.
"This to me is a new direction the district is taking. We’re getting more community involvement, which is great, and we will have a written plan that gives us some direction. We can then be proactive, as opposed to reactive," she said.
Ms. Leonard said that same proactive response is needed to deal with the issue of growth in the district.
"We have a lot of kids that are coming on board soon. We need the same quality facilities and staff that we’re used to giving," she said.
Ms. Leonard said the community should support the budget because it is essential to effectively educate district students.
"Without it, we can’t give the quality to the students that they deserve. They won’t get the education they need," she said.