Mascot voting could draw parents to polls

In order to vote for a mascot, a student must bring a parent to school, where the adult can vote in the school board election.

By: Donna Lukiw
   Manville adults will not be the only ones voting on April 18.
   In an effort to get more parents to vote on the school budget, Roosevelt Elementary School, Weston Elementary School and Alexander Batcho Intermediate School will be holding a kids’ vote this year where students will vote for school mascots.
   But in order for the students to vote, they must bring a parent to school, where the adults can also vote.
   "This idea generated in Roosevelt and spread to Weston and ABIS," Roosevelt Elementary School Principal Michael Magliacano said. "The student can vote only if they are accompanied by a parent. We are attempting to encourage parents to come out and be involved in the election."
   Each school will have a different mascot, but all will relate to the high school Mustang mascot.
   Weston Principal Don Frank said the mascot will still be in the horse family.
   "Weston Students will choose from five ponies," Mr. Frank said. "Students will get tags on Tuesday the 18th reminding them to come back to vote."
   As further incentive for the students, the class with the most votes in each school will be treated to a pizza party.
   In addition to a pizza party, ABIS Principal Jim Brunn said ABIS students will receive one free homework pass if they go out and vote April 18.
   The students can vote at any of the three polling places regardless of which school they attend.
   The proposed $15.3 million budget, a 2.68 percent increase over last year’s $14.9 million budget, would increase the school portion of local property tax bills from an average of $3,003 for a property assessed at $150,000, to $3,222.
   School taxes would rise $201 a year, or $16.75 a month, for a property assessed at the borough average.
   The tax rate would change from $2.002 per $100 of assessed property value to $2.148 — however, the final number will be affected by the borough’s revaluation, conducted last year.
   The local tax levy would be $11,415,109, a 4.04 percent increase over last year.
   Dr. Burkhardt said during the past three years the high school athletic fields have been upgraded, the Alexander Batcho Intermediate School’s lockers have been repainted, the high school stage curtains at the high school have been refurbished and new computers were put in every classroom in Weston.
   Also, Dr. Burkhardt said a ninth period has been added to the high school schedule, a second period of language arts has been added to the ABIS schedule and new curriculum was written for every field of study from kindergarten to the high school.
   If the budget passes, Dr. Burkhardt said, he plans on adding a new elementary librarian to be split between Weston and Roosevelt Elementary School for $40,000. A $23,000 plan in the budget will replace the computers in the ABIS computer lab.
   Other plans include replacing the Weston gym lights for $6,000 and completing the Manville High School auditorium sound upgrade for $18,000.
   Dr. Burkhardt said out of the $15,248,863 budget, 85 percent of the total is "fixed" — paying for salaries, insurance, bills (electricity, heat), transportation and special education costs.
   This means the district has $1 million to $1.5 million left to spend on programs, Dr. Burkhardt said.
   Voters will have the final say on the school budget April 18. Polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m. at Alexander Batcho Intermediate School at 100 N. 13th Ave., Weston School at 600 Newark Ave., and Emmanuel Baptist Church at 34 S. Third Ave.