Upper Freehold Regional budget fails at the polls

BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer

ALLENTOWN — Voters rejected the Upper Freehold Regional School District’s proposal to raise $19.1 million in support of a $37.9 million school budget.

During the April 20 election, 1,679 Allentown and Upper Freehold residents cast ballots against the 9.88 percent tax levy increase while 681 supported it. The proposal would have increased taxes an average of $402 in Allentown and an average of $868 in Upper Freehold.

“I believe we did our best to provide as much information as we could relative to the impact that a failed budget would have on the program and services provided for the children of the Upper Freehold Regional School District,” Superintendent Dick Fitzpatrick said.

The Upper Freehold Township Committee and the Allentown Borough Council will now have to agree on a final budget. Any reductions must come from non-statemandated programs and staff, such as kindergarten, athletics/co-curricular activities, music lessons, supervisors, librarians and guidance counselors, according to Fitzpatrick. The board may refuse specific line item cut recommendations but would have to make other reductions that total their exact amount. If the two governing bodies cannot reach an agreement on a final budget allocation, the Monmouth County executive superintendent of schools will make the final budget decisions.

The school district would have to cut an additional $1,022,000 from the proposed budget to reach a 4 percent tax levy and an additional $1,544,000 not to impact the tax rate, according to Fitzpatrick.

“As promised, we will continue to do everything in our power to provide the best possible education for the children of the Upper Freehold Regional School District with the resources that are provided,” Fitzpatrick said. “I am proud of our faculty and staff, and I appreciate everything they do for the children of our district.”

To compensate for a 35 percent cut in state aid, a 25 percent increase in health benefit costs, other fixed-cost increases and the economic downturn in the community, the school district cut $3.9 million from its initial budget proposal on Jan. 5.

Two administration positions, four elementary school teachers, two middle school teachers, five high school teachers, one high school secretary, three building and grounds staffers, and regular and special education paraprofessional positions have already been cut. Student activity/coaching stipends have been reduced $132,922.

Spending cuts have also been made to technology equipment, custodial supplies, classroom supplies, elementary school unit leaders, lunch aides, summer hours, activity transportation, printing, co-curricular activities, athletics, field trips and the IT department. The district also decided not to spend $580,000 earmarked for additional personnel to staff the new middle school, which will open this fall.

The Board of Education has also implemented fees to provide additional revenue sources. High school students will now have to pay an annual fee of $100 to participate in any sport or extracurricular activity. Middle school students will have to pay $50. Students living within two miles of the schools will now be charged $275 per year for busing. The district is also considering other transportation options to save money, such as partial or complete outsourcing of its bus runs.

Fitzpatrick also asked the community to congratulate the winners of the Board of Education election. Newcomer Steve Gagliardi won a threeyear term to represent Upper Freehold on the board. He was the top vote-getter in the

election, besting incumbents Patricia Hogan and Joseph Calvitti with 1,011 votes. Since there were two three-year term seats up for grabs, Hogan retained a seat while Calvitti did not.

Calvitti said, “When I won the election three years ago the then superintendent Bob Smith welcomed me by saying, ‘Congratulations, you have taken on one the more demanding positions one can volunteer for.’” Dr. Smith was not exaggerating. Being a school board member is a challenging position that puts one right in the middle of a debate on taxation and education; I wish newly elected members Patty, Steve, Greg and Doug and the entire Board of Education the best of luck in what will be an extremely challenging year.”

Incumbent Douglas Anthony earned another three-year term to represent Allentown on the board, garnering 228 votes. Newcomer Gregg Barkley also won election to represent Allentown on the board with 227 votes. Barkley will serve the oneyear unexpired term of Elizabeth Trent, who resigned from the board earlier this year.

The board will also have to appoint a replacement for Ed Werner, who resigned just before the election when he moved out of Allentown.