LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, April 15
Vote for budget, second question
To the editor:
The Princeton community values education and the Princeton Regional Schools are good value. They maintain a reasonable class size, employ excellent teachers and offer a quality curriculum with programs that address the needs of all students, those who excel and those who need more help to reach their potential. This year, the schools are confronting new challenges. The base budget, together with the proposals in the second question, will help the district schools meet them.
Why is the budget going up so much? There are several contributing factors for example, no increase in state aid, the additional costs to run the school facilities recently completed, soaring energy costs of heating and transportation, new security and safety costs, increased tuition costs for students placed out-of-district and the costs of complying with legislated mandates like S-1701 and the No Child Left Behind Law. The board has worked very hard to reduce the growth of the budget as detailed in the superintendent’s budget message, which was mailed to every household in the district and is available at www.prs.k12.nj.us.
How did the increase get split between the base budget and the second question? S-1701 largely dictates what budget items get allocated to the base budget versus the second question. The second question proposes improvement or expansion in several areas. For example, it will fund two elementary school science teachers, programs to help close the achievement gap and additional monitors at the middle and high schools, which are described in more detail in the second question proposal available on the PRS Web site. However, it’s important to realize that there is nothing in the second question that would not have been included in the base budget if it weren’t for the cap the state imposes by S-1701.
Princeton is not alone. Other districts in the state include a second question on this year’s ballot and most will include one within any four-year cycle. (The last second question on Princeton’s ballot was five years ago.)
Good schools are good for our kids and for our community. Remember to vote Tuesday. The polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m.
Jane Murphy
Prospect Avenue
Jackie Rea
Castle Howard Court
Holly Holcombe
Baldwin Lane
Lesley Germaine
Hawthorne Avenue
Princeton
Second question will pay dividends
To the editor:
On April 19, Princeton votes on the school budget. New government restrictions on spending and reserves, reduced aid to education and rapid increases in costs not subject to negotiated agreements mean the school board has had to put programs planned for the base budget into a second question. Of all the items in the second question, those dealing with elementary schools represent the greatest changes and have the greatest potential for long-term benefit for our students and their families.
Like districts all over the country, we have seen a rapid increase in the number of children from all backgrounds coming into the schools with severe behavior problems. As always, teachers must deal with the effect of everything from trauma in the home to the constant influx of students from other districts and countries to the inability of some families, for whatever reason, to provide the educational support we take for granted in Princeton. There have been persistent questions about the disproportionate number of minority students in special education and, more broadly, the effects of pullouts for remediation. We want to keep as many children as possible in mainstream classrooms while providing the best special education services possible to students who need them. The second question will enable the district to hire a behavior specialist, who will do pre-classification intervention and work with teachers to develop individualized programs for students capable of overcoming their difficulties while in mainstream classes. The second question will add four early intervention teachers who will help this process by focusing on K-2 literacy. Studies show that students who catch up by the second grade can keep up thereafter.
The second question will support a guidance counselor in each elementary school. These counselors combine educational assistance with social work. They will work directly with families on any issue that has an impact on their children’s performance in school everything from coping with trauma to how to help with homework and implement individualized instruction plans. They will go out into the community to work with families. The second question will support after-school tutoring in the buildings by certified teachers as well as summer math and literacy programs. Finally, the district will hire two specialists in elementary science education to make sure we take full advantage of our new science labs.
These second-question investments at the beginning of the educational process will pay dividends down the road, with fewer remedial problems at the middle and high school level and broader participation in the high level academic and co-curricular activities that are the pride of the Princeton Regional Schools.
Laura Spear
North Harrison Street
Princeton
Montgomery schools offer excellent value
To the editor:
There has been a great deal of discussion in Montgomery regarding the upcoming April 19 vote on the school budget. The Montgomery Middle School PTA and the Montgomery High School PTSA executive boards have examined the facts surrounding the budget and have unanimously voted to support the budget. We understand that there are some misconceptions in the community concerning the budget, so we would like to share the facts that contribute to our support:
Although our enrollment continues to grow, our state aid per pupil continues to decrease (a decrease of over $175 per pupil over the past five years).
According to the newly released state Department of Education Comparative Spending Guide of 2005, per-pupil spending in Montgomery was the eighth lowest in the state $2,437 per pupil below the state average. There are only seven districts that spend less than we do and none of them produces the academic results that Montgomery does. Compare that to West Windsor-Plainsboro’s ranked number (69), Hopewell’s (72) or Princeton’s (92) out of 104 large K-12 districts. The state average is $11,215 versus Montgomery’s spending of $8,778. Our ranking for administrative costs per pupil has also improved significantly.
Despite the decrease in state school aid and the low per-pupil spending, Montgomery continues educational excellence, scoring the second highest in the state on the SAT and excelling in the High School Proficiency Assessment tests. Nothing less than excellence is acceptable. Montgomery Township spends $2,000 less per child compared to the Princeton, WW-P and Hopewell school districts, but we have higher scores and achievements.
In New Jersey, if a school budget is defeated, it is taken to the Township Committee to determine how much must be cut. It will then be up to the superintendent to determine where to make the cuts to reduce the budget by that amount.
This year, in Montgomery, one cent on the tax rate is equivalent to $387,000 revenue for the budget, which results in approximately $50 of taxes to an average homeowner. This small change to our taxes would greatly change the services provided to our children.
If the budget is defeated, the first thing that will have to be cut will be some of the teachers added for the next school year. A minor, $387,000 budget cut one cent on the tax rate will result in the loss of approximately six teachers. This will cause an increase in class sizes and the reduction of services for our students. It will not result in any changes to the newly built high school, funding for which was approved by a referendum. It will also not result in any changes to the already approved transportation plan. It will, however, affect our children’s education.
Please be informed. You can read more facts about the budget at the school’s Web site: www.mtsd.k12.nj.us. Please vote in favor of our children’s continuing excellent education on April 19.
Sue Bona, Co-President
Lauri Rosenthal, Co-President
Debbie Loupos, Vice President
Judy Sum, Vice President
Neenu Barghava, Treasurer
Patti Schwarte, Corresponding Secretary
Anne Marie DeMarco, Recording Secretary
Montgomery Middle School PTA
Debbie Andrew, Co-President
Sue Eatwell, Co-President
Montgomery High School PTSA
Montgomery
Budget approval is in everyone’s best interest
To the editor:
I am a lifelong resident of Montgomery Township, married to another lifelong resident. Our children are students here, and I teach in the middle school.
And so I have the unusual vantage point of a former student, a taxpayer, a parent and a teacher. From each of these positions, I clearly see that passing the proposed school budget is in our best interest.
I have watched educational opportunities in Montgomery grow from basic to sophisticated. Academic quality has risen to an enviable level. Our teams sports and academic have become consistently winning.
Advancements like these require continual funding. True, our taxes have increased steadily, but the increases in our property values dwarf those of our taxes. Our real estate has become this valuable because our schools have become uniquely outstanding. It seems that a lot of people want their children to have a Montgomery education.
That Montgomery education means teachers that can tailor their lessons to the abilities and interests of their students and give them individual attention. It also means access to resources that enhance learning, including technology. If the upcoming budget is not passed, these advantages will be significantly reduced.
A number of years ago, residents voted to build a new high school. To open this building, as well as to move other grades into other existing buildings, will take additional funding. Voting down this year’s budget will not result in cutting these expenses. Cuts will come in the form of teachers, causing larger classes, and in programs, resulting in fewer opportunities.
I encourage you to vote yes to the school budget on April 19. This year, it will not be enough to silently agree your vote is needed. Let’s support our schools so that the trend of continually improving educational quality and property values can continue in Montgomery.
Karen Merritt
Hillcrest Court
Montgomery
Laptop initiative would benefit students
To the editor:
I am an eighth-grader at Montgomery Middle School and I would like to address the "one-on-one" laptop initiative.
This is an issue that Montgomery residents will be voting on separately from the budget. If this initiative is approved every kid in the high school will get a laptop. I can’t tell you how much this would benefit the students at MHS.
If everyone had a laptop, there would be no stampeding kids racing to the four computers every time the teacher assigned a project that required research or typing. There would be no need to cram everyone into the media center and give them a minuscule amount of time to enjoy this technological benefit. And there would be no end to the advantages that every single high school student would receive.
If provided with laptops, students could become quicker and more accurate typists, take notes faster, research projects, write stories and essays, create power point presentations, enjoy a worldwide communication system, make Web pages, become more comfortable with technology that is becoming increasingly more important to society, and much more. I can’t see why anyone would want to deprive the promising young students of this school of a benefit as great as this.
I urge you to vote yes on the school budget and the laptop initiative. Don’t deny the hardworking students what they need to learn and experience as much as possible during the short time they have as students. Don’t rob the town of the blue-ribbon schools it is renowned for. And don’t deprive the country of the potentially successful people that our schools could produce if they were granted the materials.
Jessica Field
Heather Lane
Montgomery
Vote for budget and Jacey in Montgomery
To the editor:
Like most families in Montgomery Township, we moved here for the school system. Our teachers, administrators and support staff are outstanding. We are reminded of this every time we step foot into one of our schools and see the challenging projects our kids work on and witness the above-and-beyond commitment so many of our teachers and administrators bring to work every single day. Our children are fortunate to have a great school system and to have parents and neighbors who care so much about their education.
Many things are being said about the budget and the school board. I have attended board meetings, read the budget and received the e-mails. Some of the information out there is accurate and some of it is misleading and downright mean-spirited and not based on facts.
Some people say they might vote no on the school budget increase because our taxes are high enough already. No one is happy about the taxes but voting down the budget is not the solution to our tax situation in Montgomery Township. We have a brand new high school that needs our support. We should be proud of our new school and we should support the opening costs that go with it.
I have heard that there is too much in the budget for administrative costs. We have one of the lowest administrative spending districts in all of New Jersey. The increases in staff at our schools are related to the new vice principals and their support staff our district holds to a 400-to-1 administrative/student ratio, which is absolutely critical and it represents a higher ratio than most districts.
There have been false accusations and attacks against our school board. In the fall, I served on the board’s Ad Hoc Community Relations Committee. Reaching every resident and making sure their concerns are heard and addressed is a major objective and challenge that every school district faces. The committee found that our district does many things well and we also found areas for improvement. Board members Richard Specht and Andrea Bradley served on the committee, and they are committed to implementing many of our suggestions. Some have been implemented already. More recommendations will be adopted after the election on April 19.
Also serving on this committee was Charlie Jacey, who is currently running for the school board. After working with Charlie, I can honestly say he would be an excellent addition to our school board. A retired vice chairman at Coopers & Lybrand with 40 years of business experience, Charlie will bring much to our school board. He attends board meetings and he knows the issues. Charlie Jacey is dedicated and enthusiastic about focusing on long-term strategies and increasing communication between the board and the district.
Vote yes on the budget and yes for Charlie Jacey.
Valerie Smith
Kemper Lakes Court
Montgomery
Pettit will be ‘a voice for you’
To the editor:
The pages of The Packet have been filled recently with the dissatisfaction of Montgomery residents about recent decisions by the school board and administration: the "one-to-one" laptop proposal, new school starting times and the large increase in the budget linked to opening the new high school.
Most of these are inevitable questions that the school board had to address. At the root of the discontent is a sense among many residents that the board and administration have not given serious consideration to alternative policies, nor have they given residents sufficient opportunity for input.
Many residents are saying they will "send a message" by voting down the school budget. A much better way to send a message is by electing new and responsive people to the Board of Education. That’s why we are strongly supporting the candidacy of David Pettit. David will bring to the school board exactly the kinds of strengths that we need today.
As a change management consultant to Fortune 50 corporations, David is trained and experienced in establishing processes that insure timely and thorough communications, input for key stakeholders and collaborative decision-making. As an executive coach, he has helped managers drive strategic change processes and improve their listening and communication skills. As an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, as a Sunday school teacher and as a youth sports coach, he is experienced in the learning process. And as the co-chair of the steering committee of Crisis Ministries in Princeton, David is experienced in providing leadership in the context of a social service organization.
The theme of David’s campaign is "a voice for you." That’s exactly what Montgomery needs a voice for parents, taxpayers, staff and especially for our children. On April 19, we urge you to elect David Pettit to Montgomery’s Board of Education.
Brad and Diane Fay
Griggstown Road
Joel Bernstein and Betsy Stern
Fawn Drive
Robert and Rhonda Hurlbert
Hollow Road
Robert and Mary Ellen Sparno
Red Oak Way
Montgomery
Pettit’s skills needed on board
To the editor:
Dave Pettit’s community leadership speaks to his character. My husband and I have known Dave for 15 years. He has resided in Montgomery for 14 of those years. He has a genuine interest and concern for the community.
Dave follows through on his convictions. His excellent communication skills, his expertise in change management, his business planning skills and his generous spirit are greatly needed on the board. Dave proved his value as a member of the School Board Ad Hoc Community Relations Committee this past year.
Dave has an education and experience in childhood developmental psychology. Dave’s compassion for children has been demonstrated season after season as a coach for the township soccer and baseball youth leagues. As a coach, Dave has not only come to know many in the town, but he also has heard the voice of the children and learned so much.
His involvement in the community stretches beyond the Montgomery border. He has used his leadership abilities to fight hunger and homelessness, and to help nonprofit and educational organizations better serve their clients. And his talents to lead, teach and facilitate are utilized in various capacities as an executive coach, church schoolteacher and professor of strategic planning.
We fully endorse Dave Pettit’s candidacy for Montgomery Township Board of Education, and we hope you will do the same. Place your vote for Dave Pettit on April 19.
Stacey and Dave Anderson
Sunset Road
Montgomery
Every vote is important in school board election
To the editor:
I support this year’s West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District budget.
Over 60 percent of the property taxes we pay go to our school system. This year’s proposed school budget is $136.2 million, compared to $129.8 million last year. Many residents have been seriously questioning whether the board members and the administration are doing enough to minimize the waste and improve the efficiency, and whether our children are getting the maximum value. The efficiency improvement is a continuous process and it is not an easy, one-step transition. Yet there may be cases where a major surgery may be needed to eliminate certain problems. It is easy to follow the old traditional way, rather than bringing some new bold changes.
I believe that the board has started addressing the issues in a moderate way. I give them credit for that. That probably has helped to reduce the rate of increase. Cost control is not just a senior-citizen issue; every taxpayer wants to make sure their taxes are spent prudently.
The school board president has made a pledge "to continue serious proactive efforts to identify possible cost savings in every possible area, including consultants, head counts, capital budget expenses, and others and will enforce this in every possible area with high priority and innovative approaches."
I trust him. I hope the new team will join him in this pledge. In every organization, there is room for improvement. Improving efficiency could realize cost savings as well as improve the quality of education.
The future belongs to the efficient. April 19 is the school board election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Your vote will make a difference.
Ram Ramachandran
Jefferson Park
West Windsor
Candidates’ night available on cable
To the editor:
Monday evening, I attended the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional Board of Education candidates’ night hosted by the League of Women Voters. I was unfamiliar with the West Windsor candidates and found the forum very informative.
The candidates did an excellent job responding to questions provided by those in attendance. Unfortunately, the meeting was not well attended. Through the miracle of modern technology, however, residents will have several opportunities to view rebroadcasts of the candidates’ forum.
Channel 27 in West Windsor and Channel 3 in Plainsboro will air the forum on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. I strongly urge every voter in both townships to take the time to view a rebroadcast.
In addition to providing information about themselves and their positions on various issues facing the district, all the candidates shared their insights regarding the current school budget to be voted upon on April 19.
West Windsor has three qualified candidates running for two open seats. This forum will give voters an opportunity to differentiate among the candidates. While the Plainsboro candidate, incumbent Pat Bocarsly, is running unopposed, she shared valuable informed opinions from her vantage point as a current board member. For Plainsboro voters, viewing this program prior to casting their vote on the budget will also be time well spent.
Rona Burke
Perrine Path
West Windsor
Tucker’s experience will benefit board
To the editor:
We are writing to support Randall Tucker for the upcoming school board election in West Windsor.
Randall Tucker would bring great experience to that board in key areas to be considered by the board facilities and financial management. Our district faces challenges in both budget and the need to address aging buildings.
As the director of engineering for Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho-Clinical Diagnositcs, Mr. Tucker has extensive experience prioritizing an extensive list of capital improvement projects and finding the best value from engineers and architects.
Randall Tucker has a long history of volunteer service to our community, from Little League T-ball/softball/baseball to Pop Warner football to PTSA to the recreation department. His family has hosted a Fresh Air Fund child for several years.
We can personally vouch for Randall Tucker’s character. He is calm and open-minded, a good listener who will carefully consider many sides of an issue before determining a thoughtful, fair decision.
We are fortunate to have such a qualified candidate to be willing to serve on our school board.
Please vote for Randall Tucker on Tuesday.
Tom and Loretta Cooper
Arnold Drive
West Windsor
Tucker will bring business savvy to board
To the editor:
Look at any West Windsor residential real estate advertisement and a primary focus is our outstanding schools. Whether West Windsor residents have schoolchildren or not, it is clear that the lure of our schools has been an important reason for the personal wealth creation we all have enjoyed as home prices have marched upward.
As an asset for our community, I’m looking to the school board to protect our schools’ reputation going forward. Of the three candidates for the open positions, Randy Tucker has the best skill set and perspective necessary to achieve this objective. Mr. Tucker will bring business savvy, operations expertise and management discipline to the board.
In reality, the schools’ education mission is well in hand. What is missing from the board is an advocate for improving operational efficiency, while clearly understanding that assets must be maintained and improved in order for them to remain productive. There is a lot to be gained from approaching school-related challenges from a business perspective. Mr. Tucker is my choice to take on this role and all West Windsor residents will benefit from his leadership.
Kirk Loury
Brians Way
West Windsor
Help make strides to cure cystic fibrosis
To the editor:
Please join us in front of the Clark House on the Princeton Battlefield on Mercer Road on Sunday for the annual Great Strides Walk to Cure Cystic Fibrosis. Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes will join with the representatives of 101.5 FM and some members of the Princeton High School Studio Band to start the walk at 12:30 p.m. Registration begins at noon with warm up exercises and children’s crafts to prepare us for the 2-mile walk. There will be prizes, music, sandwiches and water bottles as well as new "Breath of Life" wristbands
We need to find a better treatment and a cure for this fatal disease. Children afflicted with cystic fibrosis suffer lung infections, shortness of breath, sinus problems, dehydration and digestive disorders. With the best treatments available, they will live long enough to finish college but not long enough to take their place in the corporate or professional world.
The gene responsible for this fatal disease has been isolated, the mechanism of the disease is understood and the problem can be solved. With the resources, the intelligence and the scientific prowess available, CF could become the paradigm for the cure of other genetic diseases.
Last year, the Princeton walk contributed $115,000 to the national effort to cure CF. More than 91 percent of the money raised by the CF Foundation is designated to treat and cure cystic fibrosis. The Wall Street Journal has rated the CF Foundation as "one of the charities you can trust" based on this record. You can help with your prayers, energy, talents and donations.
With your help on April 17, we can change the meaning of the initials CF from Cystic Fibrosis to Cure Found. For more information, please call (609) 683-9577, send an e-mail to [email protected] or visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Web site at www.cff.org.
Mary, Paul, John, Meghan, Matthew and David Gerard
Talbot Lane
Princeton
YWCAs team up to fight racism
To the editor:
We invite your readers to join us in making a commitment to eliminate racism on Friday, April 29.
On that day, the YWCAs of Princeton and Trenton will join together to observe the National Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism, in collaboration with Princeton University and Princeton Human Services. A full morning of events is planned in Liberation Hall at the Princeton University Carl Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding, 86 Olden St., Princeton. These events include:
Breakfast;
Poetry reading by Cecelia B. Hodges;
Presentation of awards to Trenton High School essay contest winners;
Musical selection from children’s choruses;
Community panel discussion on the theme: Civil Rights Civil Transformation: What can we do? and
Official signing of the Birmingham Pledge.
The public is welcome to attend, and ask questions of the panel. For more information, please call the YWCA Princeton (609) 497-2100, or the YWCA of Trenton (609) 396-8291.
Eileen Conway
Executive Director
YWCA Princeton
Sharon Bonitz
Chief Operating Officer
YWCA of Trenton
Kids help kids through works of art
To the editor:
On April 10, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Mercer County held its first Children’s Art Display.
CASA, an organization that trains volunteers to speak in court on behalf of abused and neglected children, would like to thank Educational Testing Service for hosting the event and providing food and beverages. Over 50 works of art created by first- through 12th-grade children from 10 Mercer County public and private schools wowed the audience in this "kids helping kids" event. Each child received a personalized certificate of contribution.
Fast Frame of West Windsor, Framesmith of Princeton, Art & Frame Express of East Windsor and Family Framers of Jamesburg donated their talents and materials to block, matte and frame these wonderful works of art. The art will be displayed throughout April, Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, at the Chauncey Conference Center of ETS and will be auctioned at CASA’s April 30 major fund-raising event, "A CASA Getaway to Calypso Island," at ETS. All of the funds raised will go directly toward helping the abused and neglected children we serve. Call (609) 434-0050 for information.
CASA wishes to gratefully acknowledge all the children and teachers who demonstrated their willingness to do something beneficial for others in need.
Mark B. Levin
President
Board of Trustees
CASA of Mercer County
Ewingville Road
Ewing
Bush’s nominees send all the wrong messages
To the editor:
President Bush’s nominee for chairmanship of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Gerald Reynolds, is an outspoken critic of civil rights laws. His resume consists largely of his practice as a corporate and public interest lawyer and his association with think tanks that have attacked affirmative action, the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights laws.
President Bush’s nominee as ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, is known for his scathing criticism of the UN and of international diplomacy. Mr. Bolton once said, "If the UN secretariat building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference" and that "there’s no such thing as the United Nations." Fifty former diplomats have expressed dismay at his nomination. Is Mr. Bolton’s mission at the UN to attack it or to improve it?
The Senate is now considering the president’s nominees for federal judges. He has resubmitted seven nominees who were rejected last year. William Meyers has built his career as an anti-environment extremist. He has been a long-time lobbyist for the mining and cattle industries and has overturned a decision that would have protected American Indian sacred sites against mining in the area. Terrence Boyle has an extremely high reversal rate of his decisions as a district judge and has rejected many claims involving civil rights, sex discrimination and disability rights. Thomas Griffith has the distinction of having practiced law in two jurisdictions without a license in Washington, D.C., and later in Utah. These men were chosen for their ultra-conservative political views, not their qualifications for the federal bench.
President Bush’s nominee to be general counsel of the Department of Homeland Security, Dick Cheney’s son-in-law, just happens to represent companies selling products in the security field setting up clear conflict-of-interest situations.
Our president seems determined to send all the wrong messages to the rest of the world and to divide the United States, not unite it. Surely the American people deserve better.
Ronald A. LeMahieu
Sequoia Court
West Windsor
Wear a blue ribbon in support of children
To the editor:
What should I do when my baby will not stop crying? How can I discipline my child without getting physical? Challenges like this face parents in Mercer County each day. Children can be challenging; for all of the joy they bring, their behavior can interrupt a family outing, shopping trip and daily life.
Without assistance, a parent might shake a crying baby or strike an adolescent, potentially causing irreparable physical or emotional harm. However, resources are available to assist parents in their role of caregiver. In total, the Division of Youth and Family Services received 3,719 referrals for intervention and services in Mercer County during calendar year 2002, the most recent year for which statistics are available. This is simply not acceptable. Parents must learn more appropriate methods of discipline and stress reduction. For this reason, I am proud to serve as a volunteer director on the board of Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey. Each day, the staff and volunteers of PCA-NJ work in communities to reduce incidents of child abuse and neglect.
Nationally, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, symbolized by the blue ribbon. This month, I wear a blue ribbon to display my support for New Jersey’s children. I hope that my fellow readers will do the same.
To obtain a blue ribbon or for more information about PCA-NJ, please call (800) CHILDREN or e-mail [email protected].
Nicholas D. Borrelli
Ege Avenue
Hopewell