by Kardashian, Bartlett
up for grabs April 15
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer
Alan Bartlett
SPOTSWOOD — Voters will pick from three candidates to fill two Board of Education seats April 15, including the one belonging to board President Frank Kardashian.
Kardashian has decided not to seek re-election. Incumbent Alan Bartlett, who is the board’s vice president, is running, as are newcomers Louis DiMeglio Sr. and Richard O’Brien, two longtime residents. Each of the terms is for three years.
Bartlett has lived in Spotswood for 16 years and has a wife, Lori, and two children. They live on Michael Road.
Bartlett, who has served one full term on the board, said he wants to complete the work he has started in the district.
Louis DiMeglio Sr.
"We’ve turned this board into a much more receptive board," he said.
The board also has "mended fences" with teachers who recently agreed to a new labor contract, he said.
He wants to squeeze the most he can out of every dollar, and see that the referendum is handled properly, he said.
"We’re running a small business when we run a school district," he said.
Richard O’Brien
Bartlett was formerly a bond trader and now works as a director of information technology in trading services.
He said his financial background has helped him as a board member as the district has saved money by restructuring its debts and privatizing its cafeteria services.
The board also saved money by restructuring its teachers’ retirement program, he said.
Years ago, the district offered teachers an early retirement program in order to bring cost savings.
The state made retirement payments to the teachers, which the district reimbursed; however, the board realized that paying for the program through private bonds would save more money than working through the state, he said.
DiMeglio, 44, a resident of Spotswood for five years, lives with his wife, Cindy, and their two children on Ertle Avenue. He is employed as a supervisor of buildings and grounds for the Middlesex County Educational Services Commission.
He said he is running because he wants to make sure that the district’s various educational programs are maintained, including those for arts and music.
"It’s so children get a good exposure to that in their school years so they develop into intelligent and well-rounded young adults," DiMeglio said.
He said he feels the budget proposed by the board this year is "pretty fair" and that, if elected, a priority would be making sure the new building referendum is carried out correctly.
"I think, with the tight construction schedule, we need to see a smooth start so that when September 2004 rolls around, we’re in good shape," he said.
The public needs to become more involved with school district issues, he said, and the board should make a stronger effort to advertise its meetings.
"I feel there’s more we can do [as a board] to get people involved," he said. "There were only four people at the budget hearing."
O’Brien, 44, is a 15-year resident and lives with his wife, Maryann, and three children on Hudson Avenue.
O’Brien, a federal postal inspector, is running for the first time.
He said he feels his background in law enforcement would help make the district safer.
"I thought I could help with critical incident planning and emergency preparedness; basically school security, keeping the kids safe," he said.
O’Brien, who is also an auditor, said he wants to make sure money from the referendum is well-spent.
"Voters are expecting a certain amount of projects to be completed, and I want to make sure the public gets what it paid for," he said.
He said the borough of Spotswood needs to reconsider the idea of school regionalization.
"I believe in sending and receiving, but I’m not sure we have the right partner in Helmetta," he said.
He said he also supports the budget and realizes how hard the board worked on it. With the exception of debt service, which helped cause the tax increase, the higher budget is due to increased medical costs, as well as the results of the new teachers’ contract, he said.