School board election and budget vote - my thoughts

[lee fankhauser]

Those of you who know me, personally or through this group, know that I try to report thoroughly and objectively; like Joe Friday of "Dragnet" says, "Just the facts, Ma'am." Yes, I am that old. When I give my opinion, I try to give it respectfully and based on facts I have researched or observed myself. I have no personal axes to grind and I only want what I feel is best for my family because, hopefully, by benefiting them, I benefit the overall community as well.

With that, I want to tell you what I think about this year's school budget and election. I am writing on my behalf only, not as the Local School District Education Liaison to the Town Council nor as the Treasurer for the candidates I support.

It is hard not to support an alleged zero increase in the school general tax levy. But, before you do, just know that it is not a true zero. Even the administration will tell you this. Check out the Howell Patch article on the budget as well as Question 4 of the school's recent budget Q & A (http://howell.k12.nj.us/news_main.aspx?id=923#q4).

There will be a tax increase on the local school district end, not to mention the high school budget end as well. Your tax bill will also go up because of the township, county, fire and library pieces of the budget. But, also know that something like 70% of your tax dollars go to support the $110 million local school budget. $95.7 million (or 87%) of the budget goes to salary and benefits.

Also, know that a "zero" this year could result in as much as a 4% next year, despite the 2% cap.

You should also know who brought you this "zero," the "New Kids" and they are Tim O'Brien, first elected to the school board in 2009, and Suzanne Brennan, elected in 2010 and let us not forget the other new kids; President Obama and Governor Christie.

Tim, as the labor committee chairperson, and Suzanne, as a member of that committee, along with retired school board member Dave Flaherty, brought you this "zero" because, currently, salaries for about 80% (my rough estimate) of our staff ARE FROZEN. There will be no increase in this budget because the contract is being negotiated, the way contracts are supposed to be negotiated, by a conflict-free labor committee, led by a professional negotiator. I can say this with confidence as a former school board attorney who has had my hand is several labor negotiations.

Doing things the right way has resulted in a budget savings of a bit over $2 million. And, there is no requirement that a salary increase be offered - both sides have to negotiate that, and the union can do that by offering to give back savings to the board in order to pass those savings on to the employees as a salary increase. It is probably very much like how you run your own household budget in this crazy economy. Maybe you scale back to basic cable from an elite package and use that savings to sign your children up for sports or buy groceries.

You also are getting $2 million in additional revenue you didn't get last year, completely unrelated to this school board. $1.14 million is from President Obama in the form of jobs money, that must be used for personnel costs, and another $1.3 million comes from Governor Christie in the form of additional state aid, over and above what we received last year.

So, with $2 million less in costs and $2 million more in revenue (plus the sundry savings on energy costs - $36,000 - bulk purchasing and "efficiencies" the administration reports), you are able to stay "flat" for next year.

Despite what you may have heard, the finance committee did not bring you this "zero." Finance met only once after the Governor released his state aid numbers in mid-February. How anyone could say this is finance's budget is beyond me.  The status quo brought you increases each year.  The "new kids," who constitute a minority of the board, brought you this remarkable change.  

On the candidates, it is no secret that I support the MVPs, Al Miller, John Van Noy and Zig Panek. I am their Treasurer after all.

As Treasurer, I have come to learn a bit about the rules governing elections for public office and I have done my level best to follow them, including numerous calls the the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission in Trenton. You can visit their website, at http://www.elec.state.nj.us/index.htm, and view our filings.

What you can't do is view the filings of the incumbent candidates, who may tell you they are not required to file. Well, according to a representative of ELEC I have spoken to about this issue more than once, that is wrong. They do have to file and report their expenditures, even if solely underwritten by their personal funds.

You will also see that the incumbents have never filed with ELEC. Why not file? It is a bit confusing at first, but it's not rocket science and ELEC representatives are very helpful. "He who has nothing to hide, hides nothing."

Maybe in years passed, when elections were uncontested and no money was spent, there was no need to file. Well, look around. Seen any signs in the ground from the incumbents? Then they need to file with ELEC, period.

Speaking of signs, many of the MVPs' have gone missing, but I am sure the other side would make the same statement. But, have they filed police reports, as have supporters of MVPs, and  Al Miller himself because of a trespass onto his property to remove his signs and replace them with the incumbents' while his family and young children were sleeping?

Also, MVPs' large signs have been defaced with obscene drawings. Who would do this and why?

I can offer educated speculation on why. This is a HUGE election year because there is so much at stake for the union. If the MVPs take the election, the face of the board is changed to a majority, with 6 members who can fully participate in contract negotiations and balance the union interests out with those of the students and the taxpayers.

We can turn this community around with the MVPs or we can continue in the same direction we have up until this point. How has that been working for us? Taxes dramatically increasing, services to children cut, a school closed and valuable teachers lost.

Thank you and please vote, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 27 from 3 - 9 pm.  Some voting districts have changed (like in the Eagle Oaks area), so please, check your sample ballot for your polling location.

Amy Fankhauser

[Stacey Petersen]

Are these candidates really for our children?

 

 

 

M....voted in 3 of the last 5 BOE elections (since he registered)

 

V....voted in 2 of the last 12 BOE elections

 

P....voted in 3 of the last 12 BOE elections

 

 

[lee...@optonline.net]

Stacey:

 

I try to evaluate people on a totality of things, not just a single indicia.  Take my voting record, for example.  It is not great and as a former school board atty and mother of three school age children, I should know better.  But, for a variety of reasons, I did not begin to establish a "voting" record until a few years ago.  Would I be someone people could say is for our children?  I hope so, not based on my voting history for sure, but hopefully on the totality of my involvement since. 

 

Al has only lived here for 5 years so has voted in a majority of elections plus has been a PTA/O president in two schools during a time he had no children in either school.  He gains nothing personally.  That says to me that he is for the children.  Plus, Al has been at more school board meetings, from my experience anyway, percentage-wise, then some board members. 

 

In fact, Gene Tanala has missed 39% of the board meetings since 1999-00, by my calculations missing 84 out of 218 meetings; this is a matter of public record.  He raised his attendance record on the community bulletin board but no response to my knowledge was shared because attendance alone does not say whether he is or is not for the children.  Personally, I think attendance is important.  Bd. members are elected to represent us but they can't do that if they are not there.  I do not know the circumstances of his absences, so again I do not judge.  I just share facts. 

 

And, the facts as I see them are that Al's attendance at board and committee meetings plus his volunteerism at the schools and his voting record all indicate to me that he is for the children.

 

John Van Noy and Zig Panek have given to the community in other ways, indirectly benefitting the children.  And, I think they deserve credit for caring enough about what is going on in the schools to take this challenge on.  Many could, few did - including me, for family reasons, at this time.  I have observed each to be a quick study and neither has anything to gain, personally, by sitting on the board.

 

A glowing voting record by incumbent board members who have a self-interest in the election and the outcome of a budget (when their salary increases are tied to the salaries of their own community to say the least) impresses me less that they are entirely for the children.  They clearly have something to gain personally. 

 

As I see it, the MVPs have nothing to gain, personally, except what Al gains for his children, he gains for the community and what the others gain for the community, they gain for the children.

 

So, I can say with total confidence they are for the children. 

 

I appreciate your raising this issue.  Amy Fankhauser

[Golden, Enid]

Dear Mrs Fankhauser,

 

For several years I have been a recipient of your emails as part of the Howell Township School Issues google group.  At the beginning, you would run your committee reports by me to check for accuracy. For the most part, I found them objective and correct. I actually thought you were doing a great service for the community and assisting with district communications. Unfortunately, your last several emails have been clearly biased with reporting of half truths.  This is contrary to the intent of this forum.

 

For example, it is true that because we have a flat levy this year, we have the “option” of raising the levy by 4% next year.  That doesn’t mean that it will even be proposed.  We had the option of going up 2% this year and chose not to do it.  Similarly, last year we did not go up to the allowable cap.  Even if we did propose a budget with an increase in the levy, the voters would still have the opportunity to vote it down.  Your reporting is only half the story.

 

As far as this year’s budget, the main reason that it was held to a zero percent tax increase was that the Board Finance Committee Chair directed administration to keep the levy flat.  It would have been easy to put back more of the support services that were removed last year by using the 2% cap.  That didn’t happen because of the concern for the taxpayers that the Finance Committee conveyed and the Board and administration supported.  It certainly helped that we received state aid that we didn’t anticipate, as well as the money from the Education Jobs Fund. Depending on the outcome of tonight’s budget election, we may, in fact, have to use the additional money to maintain the services we have this year, not increase them.  Clearly that would not be in the best interest of the district.

 

As you are aware, this year’s budget, if successful, lowers class size, brings back some support services such as guidance, nursing, and a student assistance counselor.  It also eliminates pay to play for sports programs and allows us to purchase textbooks and new busses, as well as complete maintenance projects that have been delayed.

 

Again, when you write about our district negotiations, I am sure you are aware that that is something the Board and administration cannot discuss publicly as it will compromise the process.  Surely as a former school board attorney, you are aware of this.  You do know, of course, that members of the teacher’s association on the board are not permitted to partake in the negotiations. 

 

This Google group was started by Dan Harasty several years ago to foster truthful communication, not politics.  Let’s remember the original intent of this group as provided by Mr. Harasty :

 

"Howell Twp School Issues" (HTSI) is an online, public forum for the discussion of budget and policy issues for Howell Twp Public Schools.  HTSI strives for the highest level of accuracy in reported facts and expects the highest level of civility in expressed opinions”.

 

Unfortunately, the integrity of this forum has now been compromised.

 

Dr. Enid Golden

Superintendent

Howell Township Public Schools

732-7512480 (x3828)

 

 

Dr. Enid Golden

Superintendent

Howell Township Public Schools

732-7512480 (x3828)

---

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Dr. Enid Golden

Superintendent

Howell Township Public Schools

732-7512480 (x3828)

---

--
The Howell-Twp-Schools-Issue Google Group is established with the following guidelines:
 
Figure out what you don't know, and ask the RIGHT questions.
 
Cite the SOURCES of your facts.
 
Don't state conjecture as FACT.
 
Have an INFORMED opinion.
 
Share your opinion RESPECTFULLY.
 
Please follow these guidelines. -- DJH
 
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[lee...@optonline.net]

Dear Dr. Golden,

I found your response very interesting and puzzling, like you were attacking me when we are in agreement on most issues. Where we disagree is on matters of opinion and perception, which we are each entitled to hold.

You are right, as a courtesy, I ran my summaries past you. Until you mentioned it just now, I had forgotten all about that courtesy. It is a big task to put these summaries together and I guess I chose to skip that step.

I agree that having the option to go to as much as a 4% next year does not require it and, I think if you read my email thoroughly, you would see I said it "could" go as high as a 4%. That is the very question I asked at a recent board meeting. Mr. Sanasac confirmed that it was a possibility. Whether or not it was a probability, I did not ask, since who can say what the next board will do next year?

I also recall saying in my letter to the editor recently that we exceeded the cap one year (to about 7% in the waiver year), which is accurate. And, yes, the voters have the opportunity to vote the budget down, unless of course that right to vote is taken away, as some on this board and in this administration are on record as supporting doing.

As to who put this budget forward, remember these are "my thoughts," and as such clearly reflect my perception and opinion, something I understood this forum invited.

I am aware of the things this budget achieves, as you state, so again we agree. I also know that there are things this budget excludes. For example, the loss of the 5th day of the summer special education program and the entire summer enrichment program, which a parent recently pointed out to me. Is that correct? I want to get the facts straight. Isn't this part of the "whole story" too?

Again, I agree that no one can talk negotiations but the things I remarked about are common sense. Negotiations, whether labor or car buying, are about cost shifting, as I pointed out in my email.

As to the guidelines of this group, I guess it is your opinion that I violated them. Here we disagree.

As to the politics, I am not sure what that means. I am not running for office, I don't hold public office and I don't work for the Governor or any one in public office. I am a wife and mother. How is that political?

Another thing we have in common is that we both had letters to the editor published on the same day in the Tri Town News recently and we each use this forum. Our main difference, as I see it, is I am a non-conflicted citizen, taxpayer and parent while you are an employee of this district, which frankly is what troubles me about the level of your involvement. Apparently, you have become as vocal as any activist in this campaign.

Amy Fankhauser

----- Original Message -----

> increasein the levy, the voters would still have the opportunity

> to vote it
> down. Your reporting is only half the story.
>
>
>
> As far as this year's budget, the main reason that it was held
> to a zero
> percent tax increase was that the Board Finance Committee Chair

> directedadministration to keep the levy flat. It would have

> been easy to put
> back more of the support services that were removed last year by using
> the 2% cap. That didn't happen because of the concern for the

> taxpayersthat the Finance Committee conveyed and the Board and
> administrationsupported. It certainly helped that we received

> state aid that we
> didn't anticipate, as well as the money from the Education Jobs Fund.
> Depending on the outcome of tonight's budget election, we may,
> in fact,
> have to use the additional money to maintain the services we
> have this
> year, not increase them. Clearly that would not be in the best

> interestof the district.

>
>
>
> As you are aware, this year's budget, if successful, lowers
> class size,
> brings back some support services such as guidance, nursing, and a
> student assistance counselor. It also eliminates pay to play
> for sports
> programs and allows us to purchase textbooks and new busses, as
> well as
> complete maintenance projects that have been delayed.
>
>
>
> Again, when you write about our district negotiations, I am sure
> you are
> aware that that is something the Board and administration cannot

> discusspublicly as it will compromise the process. Surely as a
> former school

> Those of you who know me, personally or through this group, know
> that I
> try to report thoroughly and objectively; like Joe Friday of "Dragnet"
> says, "Just the facts, Ma'am." Yes, I am that old. When I give my
> opinion, I try to give it respectfully and based on facts I have
> researched or observed myself. I have no personal axes to grind
> and I
> only want what I feel is best for my family because, hopefully, by
> benefiting them, I benefit the overall community as well.
>
>
>
> With that, I want to tell you what I think about this year's school
> budget and election. I am writing on my behalf only, not as the Local
> School District Education Liaison to the Town Council nor as the
> Treasurer for the candidates I support.
>
>
>
> It is hard not to support an alleged zero increase in the school

> generaltax levy. But, before you do, just know that it is not a

> contractsare supposed to be negotiated, by a conflict-free labor

> replacethem with the incumbents' while his family and young

> children were
> sleeping?
>
>
>
> Also, MVPs' large signs have been defaced with obscene drawings. Who
> would do this and why?
>
>
>
> I can offer educated speculation on why. This is a HUGE election year
> because there is so much at stake for the union. If the MVPs
> take the
> election, the face of the board is changed to a majority, with 6

> memberswho can fully participate in contract negotiations and

> balance the union
> interests out with those of the students and the taxpayers.
>
>
>
> We can turn this community around with the MVPs or we can
> continue in
> the same direction we have up until this point. How has that been
> working for us? Taxes dramatically increasing, services to
> children cut,
> a school closed and valuable teachers lost.
>
>
>
> Thank you and please vote, tomorrow, Wednesday, April 27 from 3 -
> 9 pm.
> Some voting districts have changed (like in the Eagle Oaks
> area), so
> please, check your sample ballot for your polling location.
>
>
>
> Amy Fankhauser
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Douglass F. Dresher]

Happy Wednesday -

First, to be completely transparent on my politics, I voted yes on the budget, I am a homeowner, a parent, and a public school administrator - I have also been a teacher association vice president, union negotiator, self-employed as a special education advocate, and sometimes I enjoy posting to this forum.

That said - @leefank - how do reconcile this statement, "On the candidates, it is no secret that I support the MVPs, Al Miller, John Van Noy and Zig Panek. I am their Treasurer after all." and, "As to the politics, I am not sure what that means. I am not running for office, I don't hold public office and I don't work for the Governor or any one in public office. I am a wife and mother. How is that political? "  Once you state whom you support than you have stipulated your political beliefs.  Now, I have no problem with you posting such beliefs, as any discussion of the intersection of public school education and finance/board elections are inherently political beasts.

But I must ask, do you truly believe that supporting the teachers' union automatically make such a person stand against what is best for students or taxpayers?  And in skimping on the school budget, what are you actually saving over the course of a year?  Are you as angry about the school levy and the small changes in your tax levy, as you are about the oil companies gouging us for four dollars a gallon?  How about the decreasing state aid to the poor citizens of this state who, through no fault of their own, cannot afford their homes, or the gas bill?  Additionally, what is your opinion about the cost of the perpetual war in Afghanistan and Iraq?

You might respond that this is a forum on education - but education does not and cannot exist in a vacuum nor as an island with no connection to the many other social, economic, and political issues that are part of our micro-economy and macro-economy.

So - where do you stand on the other issues?  And how might the cost of two wars and what I believe to be a greedy elite wealthy class effect your opinion of local school taxes?

And one final thought - Public School Education and Politics are essential the same interchangeable terms. -

Respectfully submitted - Doug