Manalapan-Englishtown Board of Education Wants to Restore Six Positions for 2011-12 School Year

During their March 15, members of the Manalapan-Englishtown Board of Education continued to develop the 2011-12 school budget. Five of the superintendent’s recommendations were approved by the board, including a plan to restore a total of six positions: three elementary teachers and three elementary counselors.

The recommendations are based on Christie’s proposed 1 percent restoration of funding to each district in the state; that amounts to over $700,000 for Manalapan-Englishtown. Superintendent John Marciante Jr. wishes to spend the money on the district while also levying a school tax with an . On average, residents will be taxed an additional $40 from 2010-2011.  

Marciante also recommends a one-year suspension of activity, athletic, and instrumental music instruction fees for the 2011-2012 school year, the restoration of three elementary teaching positions to help reduce class size, the restoration of over $56,000 for Board of Education-approved curriculum trips, and spending $200,000 on textbook adoptions that had been postponed.

The board’s vice-president Joseph DePasquale and member Michele Stipelman questioned the the necessity of some of the proposals like the new positions and class trip money. Assistant Superintendent Joanne Monroe emphasized that the money must be spent on trips that have educational value. 

“I would like to find $100,000 and bank it for a rainy day and right now, give some of that money back to the taxpayers,” said Board Member Michele Stipelman. She would like to levy a tax below cap at 1.85 percent.  

With a loss of federal money, however, Marciante called the restoration from the state a “wash” and, more than likely, the district will need to tax residents again the following year.

Business Administrator and Board Secretary Veronica Wolf agreed with Marciante and said that the district will probably need the money back the next year.

“Michele (Stipelman), we’re not here to help the people hurting and their taxes,” added Board Member James Mumolie. “We’re here to help the kids so that they can support their parents when they need to get out of school and get into the right universities,” he said. “Like I said last time, there’s no wizard.”

“If we keep taxing the taxpayers and keep raising them, we’re not going to have to worry about supporting them because there’s not going to be anybody left here,” said DePasquale. Mumolie disagreed with that remark.

Each recommendation is followed by the clause “may be withdrawn, amended or reconsidered should actual state aid amounts increase or decrease and voter approval of the proposed budget on April 27, 2011.”

“Tell everybody to vote or else every one of these very possibly will be cut,” said Board Member Lori Semel.  

According to DePasquale, $40 might not seem like a lot of money to give back to the taxpayer, but he feels it shows voters that the Board is being fiscally responsible.  

“You raise them (the tax), and they’re gonna turn around and tell you, like I said last year - and it’s exactly what happened - they knocked your budget down,” said DePasquale.

“By taking the $710,000 out of the budget now, you’re that much shorter next year,” said Wolf in disagreement. Coupled with the loss of money from the federal education jobs bill, the district could start discussing the next budget already approximately $1.4 million in the hole if the district decides to give money back to taxpayers.  

“I don’t think people want to vote ‘no’. I really don’t think so. I think people really, really want to support education,” said Stipelman. “And when you make it at least a little more affordable for them, then they do it,” she said. Unlike DePasquale, she doesn’t believe that the board should look at the budget like it will be voted down.

“Everything we put in this budget is for the kids,” said Mumolie, who is known to .

“Christie doesn’t really care - none of your elected representatives. I always said - and you can quote me in the paper on this - when a politician comes and runs for office, they take a picture with a kid, and they take a picture with a dog. After the election, the kid goes back to the orphanage, the dog goes back to the SPCA and you can’t find them,” said Mumolie. “And you know what? All the promises they make you - my father used to say - ‘Those promises are written on ice.’”  

Board Member Lori Semel added that last year, it was the politicians who told people to vote down the budget and there was a big turnout in opposition.

“Really it’s not us who are punishing the kids. The parents and the people in the town are the ones punishing the kids,” said Semel. She is a resident of Englishtown, which faces a 5.2% tax increase this year. She said that times are hard for everyone, and she is currently unemployed.

“I really, really strongly hope that every one of you will make sure that people come out and vote,” said Semel.

Formoso emphasized that it’s up to the public.

“We are here for the kids. Our kids are going to be securing our futures when we’re old and gray,” said Formoso. She said a good education will prepare them for good schools.  

“Last year we cut 16 percent of the budget. This, that we’re adding back, is one percent. If you don’t pass it, this is gone, and then we don’t know what happens after that,” said Formoso. She felt it was sad that only four parents were in attendance at the meeting and called on residents to get their friends, families, and neighbors to the polls.

“Manalapan taxes happen to be very, very reasonable. For what we’re getting – for the land, for the education,” said Board Member Diane Bindler who is a local real estate agent. “We are getting value, and if it (the tax rate) goes up one penny, we’re still getting a great value now,” she said.

The Board approved Marciante’s five recommendations, with DePasquale remaining strongly opposed to the increased tax levy; he dissented on all five of Marciante’s proposals. Stipelman joined him on one dissent for the textbook adoption plan. Board Member Annamarie Galante was absent from the meeting.

Marciante has planned a March 22 presentation of the budget at the Administrative Building and a full public hearing on the school budget is scheduled for March 29 at Wemrock Brook School.

The Board of Education will present the budget to the Manalapan Township Committee on April 13.