School Board Elections and Budget Vote

[andrewd]

Just a reminder, today is the day to vote on next years school budgets (both the Boro K-8 budget and the Freehold Regional Budget).

It's also the day to vote for the folks running for the Board of Educaion, again, both for the local BOE and the Regional BOE (we here in the Boro get to vote for the Township rep as well).

Polls are open from 3pm - 9pm.

Exercise your rights!!

[leelye]

Just got back from a walk into town to vote at the firehouse. Husband and I were number 26 and 27 as of 6:20PM.

[admin]

6:30 in district 6. Wife and I were 58 and 59.

Sounds like another inspiring vote.

[admin]

Freehold Borough Public Question
6/6 100.00%
Under Votes 12
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
- Yes 216 47.37%
- No 240 52.63%
Total 456 100.00%


Freehold Township Public Question
17/17 100.00%
Under Votes 53
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
- Yes 1,018 48.99%
- No 1,060 51.01%
Total 2,078 100.00%

Freehold Regional Question
74/96 77.08%
Under Votes 194
Over Votes 0

Vote Count Percent
- Yes 5,893 53.71%
- No 5,079 46.29%
Total 10,972 100.00%

[adefonzo]

Apr 15, 2008 19:03:18 GMT -5 admin said:

6:30 in district 6. Wife and I were 58 and 59.

Sounds like another inspiring vote.

Yes, the big winner in Freehold Boro last night, continuing it's firm grip on our little town, was APATHY...Apathy won in a landslide!!! Not even a 10% voter turnout...well that's just great!! Something we can all be proud of!!!

You'll have to excuse my mood...this type of nonsense absolutely infuriates me.

I timed it last night...got off the bus at Craig Rd at 7:16...was at the County Clerk's office (where district 4 voted) at 7:23...pulled into the driveway at home at 7:29. Thirteen minutes (and at least 4-5 of that is my normal commute from the bus stop, so it's really more like 8-9 minutes)...so please, don't come back with the usual "people just don't have the time" storyline.

What I found interesting was that when we were down at Town Hall, we saw that the Regional budget was defeated by less votes than the local K-8 budget...so more people were willing to pay for the Regional's High School budget than for our Pre-School, Elementary and Middle School budget. I wonder why that is?

What I found really interesting...or rather, really disturbing, was the fact that we had 400+ people show up to vote...and we have over 1300+ students in the district...do the math and someone explain to me where the parents were?

This vote is just a microcosm of why this town has been able to slip to the condition that it's in now versus 20 years ago. The overwhelming majority of people just don't care enough to change things.

There's an old saying...if you can't beat 'em...join 'em...for my own sanity, this idea is going to be seriously looked at.

Again...excuse my tone and manner...for I am in a foul mood.

[admin]

Nothing that I am about to write should be intended as hostile toward the borough schools. I know I dig into public education at times, but that is more for the purpose of having fun with fiber. To his credit he is very dedicated to the schools and it is always good to challenge him a bit.

For starters, I agree with what Andrew wrote about apathy. The apathy in this town can be amazingly discouraging and heart breaking. I felt the same way when the town hall meeting this past March drew such an abysmal crowd.

Why is it that so few in this town show any real interest in helping? This is a great town and well worth fighting for! It always seams that it is the same few names who do get involved. That is to their credit, they are the ones we should all praise.

I am sure the BOE is frustrated with the defeat of the school budget. I find it terrible that so few showed an interest in voting. My wife has been sick and last night I dragged her out to vote. There was no complaint from her, she considers it her duty to do such a simple thing. We only saw one other person, a mother, in there voting. How very sad.

Andrew wrote:


What I found interesting was that when we were down at Town Hall, we saw that the Regional budget was defeated by less votes than the local K-8 budget...so more people were willing to pay for the Regionals High School budget than for our Pre-School, Elementary and Middle School budget. I wonder why that is?

What I found really interesting...or rather, really disturbing, was the fact that we had 400+ people show up to vote...and we have over 1300+ students in the district...do the math and someone explain to me where the parents were?

This vote is just a microcosm of why this town has been able to slip to the condition that it's in now versus 20 years ago. The overwhelming majority of people just don't care enough to change things.

All of the above reminds me of one of the most valuable things I learned while at Maplewood last year. One woman, whose name escapes me, said flat out that when looking at a towns problems, the first things she does is look at the schools. That simple statement drove home to me just how important good public schools are to a town.

Not to say "I told you so," but I have mentioned in the past that I think our schools received the last yes vote they will get in a very long time last year. Why? Andrew mentioned 1300 students. The problem? A very large percentage of those students have parents who cannot vote. Throw in the parents who can vote and do not, and we see the schools really losing their support base. The fact that the regional lost by a smaller margin is reflective of the fact that several American parents have kids in high school. In a few years that difference will catch up, not for the better.

The above alludes to the bear in the room that always bites our town in the butt, illegal immigration. The solutions are twofold. Either find a way to allow illegal aliens to vote in school elections or find a way to bring back more American parents. That is a tough one either way, the former will draw outrage from the greater community and the latter will be no easy task.

Some might say what about those who do not have kids in the schools and can vote? They are not likely to want to see their taxes go up, especially for the children of illegal aliens. That is just hard cold reality that our schools and town face and will face for quite some time.

I feel bad for the BOE and all of the school staff. They all try like hell to do what is right and keep our schools going. I saw that in abundance when I attended the citizens academy. There is a very high quality education to be had, for those who take advantage, in our schools. It is a shame that the bear keeps biting us.

[novillero]

This vote would have changed things? Really? What were the choices in this election again?

(1) vote for uncontested candidates (all of whom are experienced on the Bd); and
(2) vote on a budget that will get passed no matter what the citizens' decision is.

What's there to change?

[fiberisgoodforyou]

I hate to sound redundant, but it is Voter apathy that defeated this budget!~

If the The School Board wants budgets past, the need to do a better job communicating the VALUE of the School TAX to all voters not just parents of public school children.

If you are a parent sending children to St Rose, paying $5K in tuition per-child, if you were a senior trying to make ends meet, if you are a married or single home owner without children, if your an empty nest'r....,Plus the rumors of recession, and then there is the "Elephant in The Livingroom" illegal, undocumented, overcrowded rental property factor..., the results are not unexpected, sadly.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

I hate to sound redundant, but it is Voter apathy that defeated this budget!~

If the The School Board wants budgets past, the need to do a better job communicating the VALUE of the School TAX to all voters not just parents of public school children.

If you are a parent sending children to St Rose, paying $5K in tuition per-child, if you were a senior trying to make ends meet, if you are a married or single home owner without children, if your an empty nest'r....,Plus the rumors of recession, and then there is the "Elephant in The Livingroom" illegal, undocumented, overcrowded rental property factor..., the results are not unexpected, sadly.

[admin]

Apr 16, 2008 8:09:02 GMT -5 fiberisgoodforyou said:

I hate to sound redundant, but it is Voter apathy that defeated this budget!~

If the The School Board wants budgets past, the need to do a better job communicating the VALUE of the School TAX to all voters not just parents of public school children.

If you are a parent sending children to St Rose, paying $5K in tuition per-child, if you were a senior trying to make ends meet, if you are a married or single home owner without children, if your an empty nest'r....,Plus the rumors of recession, and then there is the "Elephant in The Livingroom" illegal, undocumented, overcrowded rental property factor..., the results are not unexpected, sadly.

I have to differ, Fiber, there is ZERO value in any tax. It is a loss to all of us. The value is in what we get for our taxes.

[richardkelsey]

Apr 16, 2008 6:02:21 GMT -5 adefonzo said:

Apr 15, 2008 19:03:18 GMT -5 admin said:

What I found really interesting...or rather, really disturbing, was the fact that we had 400+ people show up to vote...and we have over 1300+ students in the district...do the math and someone explain to me where the parents were?

Well -- I am sure many parents are not legally eligible to vote. Some that are, may hjave language barriers or work obligations -- such as shift work.

I wonder why the hours are reduced for voting that day?

What are the historic numbers for voting? I wonder how many votes the Borough had in these types of elections/budget years when the student population was 900 back in the 80's and early 90's?

It would be interesting to see if voting participation has dropped, while enrollement has gone up so dramatically.

Sadly -- off elections such as school budgets and school elections are always very poor turnout. When turnout is remarkably low in any election, it is usually those unhappy with things that win -- as they are the ones motivated to turnout.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Apr 16, 2008 8:14:18 GMT -5 admin said:

Apr 16, 2008 8:09:02 GMT -5 fiberisgoodforyou said:

I hate to sound redundant, but it is Voter apathy that defeated this budget!~

If the The School Board wants budgets past, the need to do a better job communicating the VALUE of the School TAX to all voters not just parents of public school children.

If you are a parent sending children to St Rose, paying $5K in tuition per-child, if you were a senior trying to make ends meet, if you are a married or single home owner without children, if your an empty nest'r....,Plus the rumors of recession, and then there is the "Elephant in The Livingroom" illegal, undocumented, overcrowded rental property factor..., the results are not unexpected, sadly.

I have to differ, Fiber, there is ZERO value in any tax. It is a loss to all of us. The value is in what we get for our taxes.

I have to differ with Brian, there is zero value in the WAY in which much of our taxes are spent, like on no bid Haliburton Contracts www.halliburtonwatch.org/..., etc. The Billions of Tax revenue generated dollars , paid to farmers (AKA farm subsidies).... for NOT growing crops is another Zero value.

Money spent wisely, like most investments, is measured though a dividend and/or return, including Taxation. Returns that perform well presents a strong value. Producing well educated productive children yields a strong civic return. Look at Jay Simms, a product of our Public Schools. I believe he is the first K-12 100% Freehold Public School Educated Councilman.

Back to School budget ground Zero, it was apathy that resolved the Budget vote, not the "NO" votes.

Here are all the county results...
www.visitmonmouth.com/ElectionResults/Election%20Result.htm

[admin]

Apr 16, 2008 13:30:41 GMT -5 fiberisgoodforyou said:

Apr 16, 2008 8:14:18 GMT -5 admin said:

I have to differ, Fiber, there is ZERO value in any tax. It is a loss to all of us. The value is in what we get for our taxes.

I have to differ with Brian, there is zero value in the WAY in which much of our taxes are spent, like on no bid Haliburton Contracts www.halliburtonwatch.org/..., etc. The Billions of Tax revenue generated dollars , paid to farmers (AKA farm subsidies).... for NOT growing crops is another Zero value.

Money spent wisely, like most investments, is measured though a dividend and/or return, including Taxation. Returns that perform well presents a strong value. Producing well educated productive children yields a strong civic return.

Back to School budget ground Zero, it was apathy the resolved the Budget vote, not the "NO" votes.

You said what I did, ya dim bulb!

[fiberisgoodforyou]

Apr 16, 2008 13:33:14 GMT -5 admin said:

Apr 16, 2008 13:30:41 GMT -5 fiberisgoodforyou said:

I have to differ with Brian, there is zero value in the WAY in which much of our taxes are spent, like on no bid Haliburton Contracts www.halliburtonwatch.org/..., etc. The Billions of Tax revenue generated dollars , paid to farmers (AKA farm subsidies).... for NOT growing crops is another Zero value.

Money spent wisely, like most investments, is measured though a dividend and/or return, including Taxation. Returns that perform well presents a strong value. Producing well educated productive children yields a strong civic return.

Back to School budget ground Zero, it was apathy the resolved the Budget vote, not the "NO" votes.

You said what I did, ya dim bulb!

Nope Mr. Lib(ertarian), me thinks there is a big difference between...,
Me..., "Money spent wisely, like most investments, is measured though a dividend and/or return, including Taxation"

Brian...,"there is ZERO value in any tax. It is a loss to all of us." Then you back peddled with ...., "value is in what we get for our taxes" your statement was unclear, contradictory and an oxymoronic dichotomy of expression.

If your now saying I am right, you are right..., I am.

[admin]

Apr 16, 2008 13:58:15 GMT -5 fiberisgoodforyou said:

Apr 16, 2008 13:33:14 GMT -5 admin said:

You said what I did, ya dim bulb!

Nope Mr. Lib(ertarian), me thinks there is a big difference between...,
Me..., "Money spent wisely, like most investments, is measured though a dividend and/or return, including Taxation"

Brian...,"there is ZERO value in any tax. It is a loss to all of us." Then you back peddled with ...., "value is in what we get for our taxes" your statement was unclear, contradictory and an oxymoronic dichotomy of expression.

If your now saying I am right, you are right..., I am.

Taxes are a loss, not an investment. On the subject of schools, I certainly do not get back anywhere near what I put in. It is a loss for me. A person with say, three kids, in the school is getting back more than he puts in. The same holds true for all taxes. We don't all get back what we put in. Most of that is a direct result of the tax system which is nothing more that class warfare.

Go back and read my statement again, fiber, the very last part I clearly stated that any investment is what we get back. It is about results and one very common theme about taxes and results, we rarely get what we pay for. I am not picking on schools here, just taxes.

So I was right first.

[adefonzo]

Apr 16, 2008 22:43:19 GMT -5 wlisa54 said:

If the School Board wants budgets passed, they need to do a better job communicating the VALUE of the School TAX to all voters’ not just parents of public school children.


Failure is an orphan and success has many fathers.

Last year, when a certain someone championed himself as a community activist on behalf of the school system, he acted like the increase in state aid to the schools was all because of him.

Now it is the school boards fault.

I have heard this response over, and over again...almost as much as the "there just isn't time to get out and vote" excuse.

I trust since you are convinced the BOE is not doing a good enough job, that you have suggestions as to how they can get the information out there?

The district posts information about the budget on their website, which I have listed on this site numerous times, but once more won't hurt, www.freeholdboro.k12.nj.us

The district sends out newsletters with the water bills, specifically done so that we reach every home in the Boro, not just those with children in the schools

BOE meetings are roughly every two weeks, the dates of which are posted on the billboards of the schools, advertised in the local papers, and listed on the district's website.

There are always articles in the local newspapers that talk about the "Value" of the budget leading up to the annual vote.

This website, even though it is not affiliated with the school board, posts information and articles about the districts budget each year. And I try to come on here and explain any questions that arise which I might be able to answer.

The district has other means and methods that reach out to the parents of children in the schools as well.

Please tell me what more the BOE can do to get the information out there? I am becoming convinced that some people like to say the BOE is not providing enough information because they simply don't like the information they are getting. I am also convinced that there are some people who will never be happy until the Superintendent or the BOE President knocks on their door and sits with them individually to explain the budget.

[quidproquo]

Apr 16, 2008 22:43:19 GMT -5 wlisa54 said:

If the School Board wants budgets passed, they need to do a better job communicating the VALUE of the School TAX to all voters’ not just parents of public school children.


Failure is an orphan and success has many fathers.

Last year, when a certain someone championed himself as a community activist on behalf of the school system, he acted like the increase in state aid to the schools was all because of him.

Now it is the school boards fault.

So Correct wlisa54. "can you hear us Trenton"? Every borough resident knows how involved mike wilson was behind the scenes.

[adefonzo]

Apr 17, 2008 7:45:53 GMT -5 quidproquo said:

Apr 16, 2008 22:43:19 GMT -5 wlisa54 said:

If the School Board wants budgets passed, they need to do a better job communicating the VALUE of the School TAX to all voters’ not just parents of public school children.


Failure is an orphan and success has many fathers.

Last year, when a certain someone championed himself as a community activist on behalf of the school system, he acted like the increase in state aid to the schools was all because of him.

Now it is the school boards fault.

So Correct wlisa54. "can you hear us Trenton"? Every borough resident knows how involved mike wilson was behind the scenes.

I love it...on one thread, quidproquo is saying that the district should not have spent money to hold the citizen's academy, which was, by all counts that I have heard, a very big success in educating the public about all aspects of the schools, including the budget...

...and on this thread he's agreeing with wlisa telling the district that they have to do more to educate the public.

this is where I throw up my hands in frustration.

[novillero]

Isn't there a better way to educate the public than to educate a select few, some of whome don't even live in town but are rather there for their own political motives?

[admin]

Apr 17, 2008 15:57:46 GMT -5 novillero said:

Isn't there a better way to educate the public than to educate a select few, some of whome don't even live in town but are rather there for their own political motives?

This was really a pilot program. There is a chance we may see something like it in the future. There was a blurb of an article in the APP, so any who saw it could have signed up. This time around there was specific targeting of people who are active in the community, not so much for political reasons of any kind. I found out due to my role on the CIC.

Some of you mentioned the cost of the program. I think this came from a grant.

Either way, I hope the schools continue with some sort of variation of this program. It was really good. If it does come about, I highly recommend that people sign up for it. This class was over the course of the winter which is a perfect time of the year. No Yankee games on! What else are we to do?