Brick’s Board of Education members should be more worried about students’ future

As a regular attendee of the Board of Education meetings in Brick Township, I find it of great concern that most people seem to forget why we are there. It’s hard to listen as the same audience and certain Board of Education members question more about the pay to certain administrative positions, then they question about what our children will be losing for the fourth year in a row if this budget once again does not pass. Aren’t these meetings about the future of our students? Statements such as, it’s not being realistic to present a “double-digit” budget to the residents of Brick, are bothersome to me. What is not realistic is to think that the children of this district are given an opportunity to advance, the students of Brick have not received any extras in the past three years. This community has failed our children by failing the budget year after year. It’s time that the residents of Brick come together as a community to do the right thing for our students, and for once invest in their education.

The thought of having another person who is against our children’s right for a better education up for election for the Board of Education is sad. Mr. [Frank] Pannucci, Mrs. [Sharon] Kight and Mr. [John] Talty, what is voting “no” giving our children? The answer is, as in the past three years, nothing. I feel that you, as board members, have a moral obligation to promote our school district and do what’s best for our children. Keep your personal issues out of your votes and do the right thing for our kids.

According to the New Jersey Comparative Spending Guide, 96 percent of New Jersey’s 553 public school districts spend more than Brick, and we also have the 10th lowest administrative costs of all New Jersey public school districts. This should speak on the Brick School District’s behalf for those who feel they are overspending on administration costs. Educate yourself and look at the facts. This double-digit budget is the minimum that our children need to keep existing programs running; we are already losing teaching positions in this budget. What else does the “no” voting public want to reduce? I credit the staff and administration of Brick with a job well done, especially considering the voting community of Brick hasn’t shown support for our children’s education enough to pass this budget. We as a community need to show our children that we care. We need to start being the voices of our children’s needs, not the voices of parents worrying about how much administrators are supposedly being paid.

My number one priority is my children. I, for one, will be voting yes for the school budget, and I certainly hope the other parents who care enough to show their children that their future is important, will take their children to the polls with them on April 19 and show them how we can make a positive impact toward their future.

Melanie McGackin

Brick