Referendum on minds of South candidates

Two incumbents are being challenged for the seats to represent Lambertville on the high school Board of Education.

By: Linda Seida
   Challenger Cheryl Carpenter is trying to unseat one of the two incumbents running for re-election to the Board of Education of South Hunterdon Regional High School.
   Ms. Carpenter, 39, wants one of the three-year terms now held by Douglas Coleman, 53, and Richard Anthes, 54. Voters will cast their ballots during an election April 19.
   Each of the three candidates acknowledged one of the major issues facing the district is an upcoming referendum to upgrade and maintain the school facility.
   Districts officials say the building that serves 346 students in grades seven through 12 is in need of renovation. The school has not received any major renovation since it was built in 1959.
   Among the more pressing needs are science labs and a library and media center, officials say, although no specific need has been cited yet for inclusion in the referendum.
   Ms. Carpenter said, "One of my initial goals, if elected, will be to help develop a referendum question that prioritizes the actions necessary to provide a quality education for South students and balance those needs with the community’s ability to pay for them.
   "Another key issue is implementation of the five-year strategic plan. I participated with the committee that prioritized goals and brainstormed methods to achieve them. I would appreciate the opportunity to follow through on the plan as a school board member."
   Ms. Carpenter said she believes strongly in public education.
   "I believe that it is the responsibility of members of a community to participate in the decisions that affect that community," she said. "Also, I feel very strongly about public education and the crucial part it plays in preparing students to achieve their goals and become responsible adults."
   She added, "I’ve attended many meetings at South and spoken to the administrators, and I am excited about the commitment to raising test scores, increasing the academic challenge of the curriculum and offering a more diverse course of study. As a board member, I want to support these initiatives to provide an excellent education for the teenagers in our district.
   "I’ve expressed an interest in being on the board for a few years and am pursuing it at this time because my children are old enough that I can make the time commitment to attend committee, board and special meetings in the evenings, and my current job allows me the flexibility to conduct board business during the school day."
   Ms. Carpenter was part of the district’s curriculum subcommittee during recent five-year strategic plan meetings. In 2001, she became a substitute teacher at Lambertville Public School, which she continued to do for two years.
   For the past six years, she has coached youth soccer and is treasurer for the sixth-grade class at Lambertville Public School.
   She graduated from Cornell University in 1988 with a degree in chemical engineering and was employed as a safety consultant. She works in medical billing.
   She said her work experience and educational background make her a good candidate for the South board.
   "Although I did not attend South, I graduated from a small, regional school in rural western New York state so I am familiar with some of the challenges at South, but I can provide a different perspective," she said. "In my work experience, I led teams through a process to identify hazards and operability problems at chemical-processing facilities. Once issues were identified, I helped the team develop solutions that were agreeable to all members.
   "The skills I used to facilitate these technical meetings and achieve consensus are directly applicable to school board and committee meetings."
   Mr. Coleman has served on the board since 1996 and is completing his third term. He’s been president of the board for the past year.
   In addition, his background in community service includes serving on the Lambertville Sewerage Authority from 1992 to 1994.
   Of the looming referendum he said, "The building needs various system upgrades, and the students deserve a facility that can support today’s educational requirements. A December referendum may prove to be the last opportunity to receive state funding for such a project."
   He added, "I seek another term to continue working with our outstanding and enthusiastic new superintendent as we all strive to raise our schools goals and programs for all students. I plan to use the experience gained in the two failed bond referendums to forge a plan that will win voter approval during my next term as a board member."
   In recent years, voters twice shot down referendums for building projects at the school.
   September 2001, the board asked voters to approve building projects that totaled $18.8 million, including the cost of a new gym and auditorium. When that failed 969-857, the board returned to voters in March 2002 to ask for a pared-down referendum for renovations that excluded the gym and auditorium and totaled $11.8 million. That referendum failed by only six votes, 861-855.
   In addition to the referendum, Mr. Coleman pointed out two other issues facing the district.
   If re-elected, he said, he would like to "help guide the district in providing a quality education for our students while being responsible to the taxpayers of the district."
   He added, "Doing so has become increasing difficult because state aid has not increased and in real dollars has decreased for too long."
   His efforts, he said, would include "working with board members, the administration and staff in their efforts to establish a program that raises standardized testing scores for all students."
   He added, "This new initiative will use existing and new diagnostic testing data for timely and targeted remedial help. This program includes curriculum revisions and teacher training to structure ‘normal’ classroom tests in a standardized test format."
   Communication with the public is key to the district’s success, according to Mr. Coleman.
   He said, "To address these issues will take the combined teamwork of all the board members and the entire school’s staff. We must continue to find ways to communicate and promote our school’s successes to the public and to acknowledge our shortcomings. I will continue to do my best at getting the most educational value out of every taxpayer dollar and work towards building a trust with the community."
   Mr. Coleman graduated from South Hunterdon in 1970 and from Rutgers University in 1974 with a degree in business administration. He is employed in the sales department of a local manufacturing company.
   He said he can bring to the board many years of experience and an understanding of "local issues and fiscal realities."
   Mr. Coleman said, "My approach as a member has been to always keep an open mind and listen to all sides of an issue and work to create a common consensus whenever possible. Decisions of the board require a balance between taxpayer resources and the demands placed on an educational institution from parents and from state and federal mandates. My efforts are to be fair to all concerned. On certain issues, my vote may not be the popular choice and may even be counter to my own beliefs, but it is based on a desire to do what is best for our children’s education."
   Mr. Anthes graduated from New Hope-Solebury High School in 1969. He served in the Army from 1970 to 1971 for one tour in Vietnam. He is completing a three-year term on the board and is chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee.
   His community service includes two terms on the Lambertville City Council from 1990 to 1992 and 1993 to 1995. He also served a five-year term on the Lambertville Sewerage Authority from 1990 to 1995 with four of those years as chairman.
   He is a former member of the Office of Emergency Management and is an active, supporting member of the Lambertville-New Hope Ambulance and Rescue Squad.
   His background, he said, makes him "very knowledgeable of the public service arena. This includes the budgetary and statutory issues. In addition, as a former business owner, I recognize the responsibility of maintaining equipment and facilities in good operating condition and how to accomplish that goal without adversely affecting the cash flow."
   Mr. Anthes owned and operated a trucking company from 1979 to 1990. Now he is employed as a bridge officer by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.
   Like the other candidates, Mr. Anthes acknowledged the referendum will be a major issue this year. He opposed the two referendums that failed and won a seat on the board after that.
   "As far as the current facility improvements are concerned, I have brought a host of ideas and projects to the Building and Grounds Committee and the board," he said. "This would include getting the roof replaced, the football bleachers upgraded, weight room floor renewed and this year the demonstration of the paint over the ceramic tile in the hallways. This demonstration has lead to the board’s conceptual approval of the painting of all the hallways and the installation of whiteboard covering over the chalkboards in the classrooms."
   He continued, "For the future, I have proposals being developed to replace the class/office and support areas’ door hardware for ADA compliance and to secure those areas to conform to the current security recommendations. It also needs to be done because the hardware is at the end of its serviceable life; the best time to replace it."
   In addition to upgrading the facility, he said, his work on the committee has led to other improvements as well.
   He said, "Another objective of my role as Building and Grounds chairman is to continue to categorize and computerize the work orders submitted to the custodial staff and working with the business office to have a reference document so that administration and the board have a true cost of operations figure on any selected system. This will provide the ability to know what is the life cycle and where we might improve the systems at South."
   Mr. Anthes concluded, "For the future of the referendum-supported building, I plan on using all the knowledge of the facility and the potential improvements that new products and new methods that I have learned by my membership on the board to make the building plan the best that it can be. It takes all disciplines to create a complete package for education. South has a very active administration and teaching staff.
   "I plan to bring all that I know to the table to assist in the process. We all need to partner up with those that can help to provide the best we can, effectively. If re-elected I pledge to do just that."
   Running unopposed for a three-year term from West Amwell on the South Hunterdon board is incumbent Nicole Claus.
   Ms. Claus attended Stockton Elementary School and graduated from South Hunterdon in 1982. She has been a registered nurse for more than 15 years.
   Also in the April 19 election, Laurie Weinstein of Lambertville is running unopposed, seeking to complete the year that remains on an unexpired term to which she was appointed last year when David Moraski resigned.
   Ms. Weinstein, 45, owns the York Street House Bed and Breakfast in Lambertville. She serves as chairwoman of the board’s Budget and Finance Committee and previously was chairwoman of the Policy Committee.
   She served on the South Hunterdon board from 1999 to 2003. Her community service includes a term on the Lambertville Public School board from 1996 to 2004 and 11 years as treasurer of the Lambertville Public School PTA.
   She has served as a member of a strategic planning council for both Lambertville Public School and South Hunterdon.
   In the three elementary school districts, no race is contested.
   In Lambertville, Mary Shurts, Elaine Warner and Steve Wolock are seeking re-election to three-year terms.
   Ms. Shurts is a registered nurse. She graduated from Canandaigua (N.Y.) Academy and The Genesee Hospital School of Nursing, Rochester, N.Y.
   Ms. Shurts is completing her seventh term on the board. She has served as personnel chairwoman and vice president and has been a delegate to the Delegate Assembly.
   Ms. Warner is a 1981 graduate of Delaware Valley Regional High School and attended Hood College in Frederick, Md. She is completing her first three-year term on the board.
   Ms. Warner owns a medical billing company in Flemington and has worked in health care for 18 years, primarily in administration. She has resided in Lambertville for 15 years.
   Two of her children attend Lambertville Public School, and another child is a senior at South Hunterdon.
   Mr. Wolock is completing his third term on the board. In addition to instituting the Public Relations Committee, he has served on a number of other committees, including finance negotiations, curriculum, public relations and building and grounds as chairman and as board liaison to the Lambertville Education Association.
   He was born in Metuchen. He graduated from Metuchen High School and the University of Colorado with a bachelor’s of arts degree and Rutgers University with a master’s degree in education.
   Mr. Wolock was employed as an art teacher from 1979 to 1990. He started a part-time business, River Graphics, in 1988, which became a full-time enterprise two years later.
   For the West Amwell Elementary School Board of Education, John Dupuis, Patricia Barrett and incumbent Rob Tomenchok face no opposition for their bid for three-year terms.
   Ms. Barrett and Mr. Dupuis are seeking seats vacated by Jeannie Aversa and Pam Errickson, who did not seek re-election.
   Mr. Dupuis has been finishing the term vacated by Chris Kascik. He is seeking a three-year term instead, leaving the unexpired term to Christopher Castellano, who is unopposed.
   Mr. Tomenchok, 42, is completing his second term on the board. He has served on many of the board’s committees, including negotiations, personnel and finance. He is chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee.
   Ms. Barrett, 40, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rider College. She previously was employed as a social worker and as director of admissions for a long-term care facility.
   Now a stay-at-home mother, her community service has focused on her children’s school. She has been involved with the PTO for three years, two of them as president and one as first vice president. She has been chairwoman of both the Scholastic Book Fair and the School Directory for three years. She also has been involved as a room parent, chaperoning numerous class trips plus performing other duties in the classroom.
   In addition, Ms. Barrett serves on the Building Project Committee at South Hunterdon Regional High School and has organized small, informal meetings between the superintendent and concerned parents in the community.
   Mr. Dupuis, 45, is a teacher. He also serves as a coach for the Lambertville Basketball Association and the Lambertville Softball Association. He is active in the West Amwell Elementary School PTO.
   In Stockton, incumbent Andrew Dougherty is running unopposed for the lone three-year term available. He did not respond to calls from The Beacon.
   Voters also will be asked to approve the budgets of four local school districts when they go to the polls.
   South Hunterdon has proposed a budget of $7,676,915. The tax levy, which is the amount raised by local taxes, would be $6,550,086.
   If approved, the budget would mean a tax increase in Lambertville. In South’s other two sending districts, Stockton and West Amwell, taxes would decrease.
   In all three sending districts, assessments of property values rose and led to a decrease in the tax rates.
   Under the district’s proposed budget, Lambertville’s tax rate would be 65 cents per $100 of assessed value. In West Amwell, the tax rate would be 49.2 cents per $100 of assessed value. In Stockton, the tax rate would be 70.2 cents per $100 of assessed value.
   In Lambertville, the owner of a property assessed at the city average of $288,000 would pay $17 more, or a total of $1,872.
   In Stockton, the owner of a property assessed at the borough average of $166,433 would pay $103 less, or a total of $1,168.
   In West Amwell, the owner of a property assessed at the township average of $411,819 would pay $112 less, or a total of $2,026.
   Lambertville Public School has proposed a budget of $2.58 million. The tax levy would be $2,305,818.
   If approved by voters, the budget would hike taxes about $22 to about $1,174 for a homeowner whose property is assessed at the city average of $288,000. The proposed tax rate would be 40.7 cents per $100 in assessed property value.
   In Stockton, the Board of Education has proposed a budget of $523,549. The tax levy would be $500,742. If approved by voters, the budget would raise property taxes by about $144 for a house assessed at the borough average of $165,458. The tax rate would be 1.13 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
   In West Amwell, the board has proposed a budget of $3,297,673. The tax levy would be $2,920,218. Property taxes would rise $204 for a homeowner whose property is assessed at the township average of $411,819. The tax rate would be 61.68 cents per $100 of assessed value.