LETTERS: Give Abschutz second term

To the editor:
   
We need to re-elect Marty Abschutz to the Board of Education on April 19.
   For the decade that I have known him, he has been a strong and persistent advocate for building excellence and pride within the South Brunswick schools. He supported the academic improvement efforts, the initiative on safe and caring schools, the rigorous supervision and evaluation process for non-tenured employees. He has pushed for a strong staff development and for the recognition and appreciation of high performing employees. He has great respect for the value of teachers. He has pushed for a balanced and comprehensive educational program including sports, extra-curricular activities, guidance, and art and music.
   Mr. Abschutz’s election to the Board is particularly important because of his knowledge of finance and budgeting. He chaired the Budget Committee this year. The financial pressures on the district will grow substantially in the near future because of issues of high property taxes, reduced state aid, declining ratables, and increasing enrollment. As a certified pblic acountant, Mr. Abschutz is lified to lead the district in these difficult times.
   We also need to elect Attilo DeFalco to the Board of Education. Mr. DeFalco is director of the Molecular Biology Computing Laboratory (Waksman Institute) at Rutgers University. The school district has millions of dollars invested in technology and therefore his knowledge and background in information technology within an academic setting will be extremely helpful to the Board of Education.
   Mr. DeFalco has a child at Cambridge School and a long-term commitment to the South Brunswick schools. Since no other board member has a child in the elementary schools, he will provide an important perspective on the Board of Education.
   Finally, we need to support the budget. Our children and our schools need the resources and the support.
Samuel B. Stewart
South Brunswick
Dr. Stewart is the former superintendent of school in South Brunswick.