Letters to the Editor

From the week of April 13
Community’s support

essential for schools
To the editor:
   All of us are concerned with increasing costs. We need to continue to lobby for the elimination of real estate taxes as a funding source for schools, increased rebates for senior citizens and additional tax relief for seniors in the greatest need.
   In the meantime, we also have an obligation to maintain strong schools.
   From preschool handicapped to senior year in high school, we must remain dedicated to providing an education that meets the needs of our children. Our schools have been successful in this endeavor.
   Following are some additional items we committed to when we passed our bond referendum in 2002. We committed to:
   1. Fully renovating our schools. From replacing boilers, ceilings and lighting to renovating the auditorium, this goal was accomplished on time and under budget.
   2. Opening a new high school without the addition of teaching staff. This has been accomplished.
   3. Realigning the district without adding additional buses and drivers. This has been accomplished.
   4. Building a new high school, near completion, which results in the creation of an outstanding middle school facility, a quality 4/5 building and reasonably sized K-3 buildings. This has been accomplished.
   In addition:
   1. Our staff continues to excel in so many areas, being recognized with such honors as Fulbright Fellowships, National Endowment for the Arts grants and other prestigious awards.
   2. The school district has developed an outstanding relationship with Burlington County College. The relationship will grow as BCC classes will be offered at our new high school.
   3. Our students are successful in competitions ranging from athletics to teen arts festivals, county spelling bees, Governor’s School participation and Technology Students of America contests.
   4. Two of our schools have won the prestigious Governor’s School Of Excellence Award and one of our schools has won five New Jersey Best Practice Awards.
   All of these accomplishments (and there are many more) have been achieved while spending $1,000 per student below the state average per student, and while achieving one of the lowest administrative cost averages in the state.
   This list is presented not to say we are perfect, we are not. It is offered to show that we place a priority on efficient use of our funds. We have an obligation to define our goals, make commitments and follow through. None of these goals could have been accomplished without the support of our community.
   Bordentown Township, Bordentown City and Fieldsboro are great places to live. One of the many reasons for this is strong public schools. We appreciate the consideration of our voters on this important issue.
   Detailed information about the budget can be found at www.bordentown.k12.nj.us
   John Polomano
Superintendent of Schools
Bordentown Regional School District
Board candidate urges

public to polls
To the editor:
   I am writing to encourage you to vote on our North Hanover school budget on Tuesday, April 18. For the upcoming 2006-2007 year, the board is presenting a school budget to the community with a zero tax increase, which maintains the local tax rate at 0.743. While other districts are seeking increases, some in double digit amounts, we have been working hard to hold the line on taxes.
   I also ask for your support in my re-election to the North Hanover Board of Education. I have had the honor of serving on your board for the past 25 years. During this time, I have watched the children of our great community develop into successful and productive citizens with many going onto college. To the benefit of our community and to my delight, a few former students have even returned to teach in our school system. I look forward to working together with our outstanding set of teachers and administrators to provide the highest quality of education for the children of our school district.
   I have had the privilege of living in our township for 29 years and have been an active participant in the community during this time. Over the last three decades, I have volunteered my time as girl’s softball coach and served as the president of the Northern Burlington Sports Booster Club as well as the North Hanover Shade Tree Commission.
   I bring to the board a unique perspective from a diverse professional career. I have completed a four year apprenticeship as a tool and die maker, received a degree in electo-Mechanical engineering, and worked for 35 years at Bell Laboratories. I currently work part-time with the State of New Jersey.
   These are exciting times for our school district. We are currently nearing completion of a new upper elementary school, slated for opening in September. Through the hard work and diligence of the school board, we have built this new $30 million school facility at no cost to you, the local taxpayer, with zero tax increases.
   Over the next three years, I will continue to maintain a full time presence on the board. I will continue to impartially serve you, the taxpayer, and our children by bringing creative ideas and insight to solve important board matters. Our district and our children deserve nothing less.
   My philosophy as a board member has always been one of patience and tolerance: to listen and support new ideas while maintaining a funding level our community can support.
   I ask for your support in my re-election. I look forward to seeing you at the polls on April 18.
   For more information, please feel free to visit my Web site at: https://home.comcast.net/âcschroeder20/.
   Thank you again for your support.
   Charles (Skip) Schroeder
North Hanover Township
Supporting schools

helps the whole community
To the editor:
   In response to Mr. Beeson’s letter of March 30: It is unfortunate that there is a school budget conflict between those with children and those without children (senior citizens) as you wrote in your letter. It made me envision two separate islands, and how sad that this is our community.
   What does community truly mean? I looked it up. Community — 1. a body of people living in one place and considered a whole 2. a group with common interests 3. fellowship, being alike in someway. Sadly, this definition does not describe Mansfield Township in regards to supporting our schools and children. A community supports and helps one another. A community takes care of those who can’t take care of themselves, the young, the elderly, the physically/mentally disabled, and the poor. We are not taking care of our children when we vote their school budgets down year after year.
   In last year’s school budget election, 82 percent of those who voted in districts 4 and 5 (Homestead senior development) voted against Mansfield’s school budget. I would like to thank the 18 percent who voted yes, and ask those who voted no, how would you like having your cost of living increases in Social Security voted down each year. Essentially, that is what you do when you vote down our school budgets.
   We need our community to come out and support our schools this year, Northern and Mansfield. Your anger over increased taxes is understandable and should be directed at the state government, not at our schools. The state has frozen our schools’ state aid despite our elementary school population almost doubling. It has shifted more of the financial responsibilities away from government and back to the community. We need our community to support one another so we are a body of people living in one place and considered whole with a common interest of taking care of each other. Please consider the value of education and how it enriches our community when you come out and vote April 18.
   Ann Flynn
Mansfield Township
Longtime Republican

dismayed by administration
To the editor:
   This is a copy of a letter originally sent to Ken Mehlman, Chairman, Republican National Committee,Washington, D.C.
   Dear Mr. Mehlman: For more years than I can remember, I have been a loyal, hard working Republican and have supported the party and its candidates in every election in which I have participated for the past 60 years (until 2004, when I could not bring myself to supporting President Bush for re-election). I did not vote for Senator (John) Kerry. I left that line vacant.
   The past two to three years, I have become disenchanted with the positions espoused by the White House and the lessening of ethical standards in Congress. The apparent pandering of Congress to the K Street Gang and the obvious total disrespect of the White House (principally, Messrs. Rove and Cheney) for the middle class (those of us who pay our taxes and support our churches and charities) is dismaying many of us.
   The latest straw on the back of loyal Americans is what was reported in my edition of our local weekly in a column by Michele S. Byers, executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. According to Ms. Byers, a Bush budget proposal calls for the possible sale of public lands. The article added that some 310,816 acres in 32 states had been identified for sale, but that up to 800,000 could be sold. I wonder what position Governor Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho will take when he is confirmed as Secretary of the Interior.
   Couple this with other seemingly stupid proposals and actions by the Bush administration and you will not wonder why a number of good, loyal Republicans are deeply concerned.
   For these reasons, I am not contributing one dime of my small pension and social security income to the Republican National Committee until the Bush administration wakes up to what they are doing to American ideals.
   David Mulcahy
Bordentown
Crime Watch events

planned for spring
To the editor:
   As the President of the Bordentown City Crime Watch I would like to inform our members and the community of upcoming events.
   On Tuesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium, the Bordentown Regional School District will be presenting an Internet safety program. The session will be informative and will provide useful information for our community. For more information about this program please contact John Polomano, Superintendent of Bordentown Regional School District.
   The Bordentown City Crime Watch will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, April 27 at 7 p.m. in Bordentown City Hall, Second Floor. Our Watch group is an association of Bordentown City residents who care deeply for this city and take part in local crime prevention and awareness. Now that spring is here, our Crime Watch members are out at night walking around town. We meet Friday evenings 8 p.m. in front of Town Hall. If this is something that you might be interested in becoming a part of or finding out more about, please contact me or one of our local members. I look forward to see you and can be reached at (609) 298-0128.
   Robert L. Pecht
President,
Bordentown City Crime Watch.