Letters to the Editor

Sept. 28, 2006

Parents say thanks

to school district

To the editor:
On Sept. 7, we dropped off our son, Michael, for his first day at kindergarten. Today wasn’t the first day he walked into the Upper Freehold Regional Elementary School, two years ago he rode on the "little" yellow bus to the Pre-K Disabled Program. Two years ago we were convinced this was the right thing to do. Michael’s neurologist at Johns Hopkins’s assured us his pre-K peers would be his best motivators. That first day on the "little" yellow bus was very emotional since Michael was entering the special education system at 3 years old and leaving behind his twin bother, Stephen. As parents this was not how we imagined the first day of school would be. But today we stand in front of school with tears of joy that Michael was starting a new chapter of his life at UFRES and thanks to the dedication of the Child Study Team and especially Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Rondinelli, Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Christianson, Michael has overcome his severe feeding disorder.
   Michael has been fortunate to be seen by the best doctors at Johns Hopkins, Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI), Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and Children’s Specialized Hospital in Toms River. Michael entered pre-K with only eating two flavors of yogurt and drinking 5 bottles of infant formula daily. Michael was on a waiting list to enter the Kennedy Krieger Institute intensive feeding program. This program is for children with the most severe feeding disorders in the country. This past April, we took great pleasure in turning down Michael’s enrollment in the program at KKI. I informed KKI that Michael had started eating solid foods and he was willing to try any type of food. Michael was on the road to recovery thanks to the UFRES preschool program.
   The dedication of Mrs. Thompson was phenomenal. She patiently helped Michael to overcome his oral sensory issues and he ate his first piece of solid food in the classroom – a Cheeto. Michael enjoyed his regular lunch dates with Mrs. Rondinelli. Next he ate marshmallows and a bagel. Michael wouldn’t drink anything besides formula so next the pre-K staff and his peers worked on getting him to drink milk. This was another small miracle since we spent endless hours in private therapy & he wouldn’t drink a sip of anything! Michael’s 2005-2006 year at pre-K was miraculous.
   Two years ago we would have never envisioned Michael entering kindergarten with a lunch box full of food. I’m sure today he ate more at snack time than his twin brother.
   The dedicated special education staff at UFRES has been a true blessing to our family. We thank everyone at UFRES for helping Michael to overcome his disability. Michael has received tremendous medical services & private therapy but he has overcome his feeding disorder thanks to his small town Pre-K services. We believe Michael Salvatore is a true success story of the UFRES Pre-K Program.
   
Mary Ann & Chris Salvatore

Allentown

Board overlooked

able candidate

To the editor:
I am writing to voice my opinion concerning events at the Sept. 20 Upper Freehold Regional School District Board of Education meeting. On this meeting’s agenda, among other issues, was the interview and election of a new Board Member to replace Allentown representative Kathy Wolden, who recently resigned.
   While both candidates, Doug Anthony and Robert Cheff, should be commended for answering the call to service, I am confused and alarmed by the majority Board’s outright rejection of Mr. Cheff’s qualifications and past experience as a Board Member. When considering the host of critical issues facing this district, the continuing erosion of the district’s senior management structure (highlighted by the untimely resignation of Elementary/Middle School Principal Miriam Peluso), increased overcrowding in the elementary/middle school, skyrocketing student enrollment, and the board’s inability to take an aggressive leadership role in the long promised construction of the new middle school, I had anticipated that this body would have had the wisdom to warmly embrace Mr. Cheff’s candidacy.
   Additionally, during the Board’s interview and subsequent discussion of the candidate’s application, I was concerned by certain comments made by some on the board.
   During the interview process one board member, Christopher Shaw, was either so disinterested in the proceedings or resolute in his support that, when given the opportunity, was unwilling to even participate in the questioning of the candidates. Given the weighty responsibility of filling a vacant position, this dismissive attitude is certainly a disservice to the board and the district as a whole.
   I also found discussion points raised by board member Howard Krieger to be somewhat shortsighted. During the board discussion of the candidate’s merit, Mr. Krieger explained how he was discounting Mr. Cheff’s prior board experience. He appeared to feel that this experience was of no added value to the board. I cannot help but wonder if he holds such a cavalier attitude towards the value of experience when the district seeks professional or legal advice, or in deliberations regarding the hiring of our new employees.
   As a hiring manager I recognize experience as an invaluable asset. It allows a new team member to "hit the ground running" and immediately begin adding value to processes and procedures, as Mr. Cheff could have done, especially given the short six-month duration of the appointment. Instead the majority of the board felt that the district was better served by an appointment that will require a far steeper learning curve, as Mr. Anthony gets up to speed on all the details pertaining to district’s issues and procedures. While this learning process cannot be avoided as the result of an election, the board should have had the insight to recognize that, in the mid term, this loss of productivity and momentum could have been avoided.
   While I certainly congratulate Mr. Anthony on his appointment and wish him luck in his new role, it will only be through wisdom, experience and leadership that this school district will find its way out of its current problems, regretfully these attributes appear to be in short supply within this board’s current composition.
   
Thomas Battaglia

Upper Freehold

Bad politics

in Millstone

To the editor:
I usually do not get involved in the gritty business of politics in our town but after reading the recent letters to the editor I felt the need to respond.
   My experience from attending and/or watching the last two Township Committee candidate debates and (along with several friends and fellow residents) submitting questions for the candidates I realized that none of the important questions submitted were asked. It appeared that all of the nonsense questions submitted by Steve Lambros (chairman of the Millstone Township Republican County Executive Committee), Mayor Nancy Grbelja and Committeeman Elias Abilheira and their crew were chosen — questions that could be easily answered by their candidate(s)and then used to attack their opponents. I do not consider this as being impartial and fair to all debate participants.
   In regard to the recent letters I do know that candidate and former Committeemen John Pfefferkorn and Bill Nurko and my husband, Tom (campaign spokesman for the pair), have never accused the League of Women Voters of New Jersey of being biased. In fact, they have worked with the league to obtain an independent moderator for the last two debates and each time the RCEC refused to allow an independent moderator. My husband and the candidates he has worked with only agreed to allow the same moderator in order to permit the previous two debates to move forward.
   This year Mr. Pfefferkorn and Mr. Nurko steadfastly refused to allow the same moderator from the League of Women Voters to be used again. Lambros/Grbelja/Abilheira insisted on the same moderator, which became one of the breaking points in the debate negotiation. If Mr. Lambros, Ms. Grbelja and Mr. Abilheira were interested in a "fair and open debate" why not agree to an independent moderator appointed by the president of the league? What were they afraid of?
   Now, when they are desperate to get in front of the cameras to continue to spread their lies, Mr. Lambros talks about townhouses, condos, public water/sewer and the incinerator. The only time these issues have been brought up is when the Lambros/Grbelja/Abilheira crew put out their little blue signs one to two weeks before an election. Not once have these issues been mentioned by Mr. Pfefferkorn or Mr. Nurko, nor for that matter any other candidate other than RCEC Candidates.
   The incinerator was dumped on our town by a Zoning Board chaired by former Committeeman Bill Kastning (in 2005), an outspoken supporter of Ms. Grbelja and Mr. Abilheira and a political ally of Steve Lambros. In fact, Mr. Kastning was appointed to his position by Mayor Grbelja (in 2005); and the majority of the members of the Zoning Board, which unanimously approved the application for the incinerator, were appointed by Abilheira/Grbelja. How can they now try and blame the incinerator debacle on anyone other than their own appointees and supporters?
   Over and over again, Ms. Grbelja and Mr. Abilheira have proven that they are about nothing more than corrupt behavior and lies, lies, lies. This November, vote for change. Cast your vote for the Independent John Pfefferkorn and Democrat Bill Nurko. This town needs all the honest help that it can get.
   
Ann Marie Ridgway

Millstone