By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
Voters will be going to the polls on April 27 to decide on the $134 million proposed school budget and fill three open seats for the Board of Education.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. for voters throughout the community to cast their ballots, according to officials.According to township officials, the overall value of the municipality has decreased by 4.34 percent causing the school district to present voters with a $134 million budget that carries a 12.2 cent per $100 of assessed value tax increase even though the tax levy is the same as it has been for the past two years.
If passed by voters, the budget increase would be $228 for the average property owner with a home assessed at $190,000, according to officials.
The candidates running for the three open seats on the Board of Education are: incumbents Dr. Matthew Speesler and Arthur Robinson and challengers Ed Birch, Pat Del Piano, Ray Kuehner and Deven Patel.
Dr. Speesler, 58, is a pediatrician who has served on the board for six terms including the last two years as board president. He said he feels the most important issues facing the district are adequate funding, growth in the district, and keeping quality staff in the schools.Dr. Speesler said his 15 years of experience on the board would be an asset.
Mr. Robinson, 54, is a chemical safety engineer and a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves who is completing his first three-year term on the panel.
Mr. Robinson said he feels the three most important issues facing the district in the next three years are the shrinking ratable base of the township, charter schools and the curriculum.
Mr. Birch, 59, is a senior records management analyst for the New York City Administration for Children’s Services and has run for the board unsuccessfully several times in the past. Mr. Birch said the three most important issues facing the district are the budget, teaching and staffing issues, and class size.
Mr. Birch said he feels the board needs new blood and “new thinkers.”
Mr. Del Piano is a retired firefighter and is the part-time Fire Safety Manager for the Hudson County Community College. He said he would like to find a way to bring back more activities and clubs for the schools and agrees that financial issues will dominate the board’s discussions in the coming years.
Mr. Kuehner, 54, is a transportation supervisor for the North Brunswick Board of Education and was on the board’s Citizen’s Advisory Budget Committee. This is his first time running for the board.
Mr. Kuehner said money is a huge issue for the district, and that he would try to conserve energy in the schools as one of several ways to cut costs in the district.
Mr. Patel is a Civil Engineer with the Department of transportation, and has run for the board in the past. He feels the most important issues facing the district are the budget, keeping clubs and programs and lowering financial costs. He also said he wants to give back to the community.

