West Windsor board candidates differ on school standards

Two hopefuls differ over emphasis on excellence in forum at Village Grande community.

By: Kara Fitzpatrick
   WEST WINDSOR — Candidates for the single West Windsor seat on the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education aired thoughts about increasing taxes, school curriculum and teachers’ benefits and salaries during a forum Thursday night at the Village Grande age-restricted community.
   Voters will decide who will assume that available seat — which carries a three-year term — on April 18.
   Incumbent Stan Katz, a 10-year veteran of the board who faces a challenge from newcomer Brett Boal, told about 50 people in attendance that despite what some may perceive, the current board is keeping spending tight while providing a high-quality education to students.
   "Our budgets are not going up by the kind of numbers people think," Mr. Katz said.
   Mr. Boal, however, said he believes not enough emphasis is being placed on increasing excellence in the district. He said he was motivated to seek a board position because he believes that some students are being held back from pursuing subjects — he cited middle school algebra — that they are capable of tackling.
   Mr. Boal said he believes the district "constrains the excellence of some of our students."
   Mr. Boal, who has daughters in kindergarten, fourth and eighth grade, said the notion of not allowing able children to pursue certain subjects is "terrifying, horrific and despicable. It angers me."
   But Mr. Katz disagreed, maintaining that the district was doing everything it could to push children to succeed. He said a revamping of the middle school curriculum has already begun and mathematics is next on the agenda of that overhaul.
   Mr. Boal "has made it a major issue of his campaign," Mr. Katz said. "This subject is already on the list of issues to be considered."
   The bulk of the questions from residents focused on what they perceived to be ballooning budgets and increasing taxes.
   The $141.1 million budget that is being presented to taxpayers represents a 3.9 percent increase from last year’s overall budget. Because West Windsor is undergoing a community-wide property revaluation, officials have said it is impossible to determine what the impact of the 2006-2007 budget will be on individual homeowners in the township. According to officials, that information will be available when the revaluation is complete.
   Mr. Katz defended the spending. "Yes, we’ve spent money. But, boy, do we get value for those dollars," he said. He cited 2006 per-pupil costs as being lower or on par with other high-achieving districts in the area.
   In response to a question regarding whether the candidates would be comfortable asking teachers to contribute toward their health benefits, Mr. Katz said the board attempted that strategy for years.
   "Theoretically, it’s a great idea. Practically, it’s impossible," he said, adding that the strength of the state’s teachers’ union makes it an impossible concession to obtain during the negotiation process.
   Mr. Boal, answering the question regarding teacher health-care contributions before Mr. Katz, said he would be in favor of considering such a possibility during the contract negotiation process.
   In addition, Mr. Boal said he is concerned that the district has not fully considered population growth in its strategic planning.
   "I think that is a very important thing that we should be addressing very carefully," Mr. Boal said.