By Stephanie Vaccaro, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY The election for three open seats on the Board of Education for Montgomery Township schools, as well as voting on the $77.7 million budget, will be held Wednesday.
After a decline in property valuation of 0.68 percent, the increase to the average home will be $196 instead of $153 as had been originally presented, which is a 1.73 percent increase in the tax levy, said Superintendent Earl Kim.
”We’ve been hearing very positive statements in the community about our budgetincluding endorsements from all candidates for the Board,” said Mr. Kim.
The candidates running for the three open seats are Annie Michaelson, Richard Cavalli, Christine Abrahams and incumbent Arun Rimal.
Ms. Abrahams, who worked for Merrill Lynch for 15 years as a vice president in marketing, is now a guidance supervisor for Hopewell Valley schools. She’s been Montgomery resident since 1991, and her husband is a third generation Montgomerian.
Mr. Cavalli listed three goals he’d like to achieve: continued excellence in education, to maximize the choices for students upon graduation; long- and short-term budgets that reflect the economic realities which constitute the new norm; and in combination with the community, we need a greater sense of Montgomery pride.
Ms. Michaelson, a Montgomery resident for nearly six years, described herself as a tireless advocate for the school community. She’s served as PTA president at Village Elementary and at the middle school, as well as the Municipal Alliance, the Montgomery Youth Lacrosse Board and advisory boards. Before becoming a stay-at-home mother and community volunteer, she did public relations for Estee Lauder. Then she got her master’s and worked for Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
”I can honestly tell you that some of these times have been very challenging, and I’m proud to say that we have also made huge progress during this period,” said Mr. Rimal, a member of the board of education for the past six years.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The polling places for the school election on April 27 are located at: Elks Lodge Princeton BPOE 2129 for districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16; Montgomery Evangelical Free Church for districts 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; and Rocky Hill Borough Hall for all Rocky Hill districts.
The budget can be viewed on the district website at www.mtsd.k12.nj.us.
