School board member explains budget dilemma

The Brick school district is clearly suffering the cumulative effects of years of underfunding by the state ofNewJersey, the imposition of a four percent cap on our budget, a new funding formula that penalizes our children and taxpayers, as well as declining enrollment.

This has forced the Board of Education to make responsible decisions such as closing the Primary Learning Center as well as other reductions. These decisions are necessary in order to comply with state requirements to maintain educational programs that meet the core curriculum standards of the state Department of Education. The facts, which are verified by the state's Comparative Spending Guide, clearly indicates that our per pupil spending and the number of administrators that support our district are well below comparable districts of our size.

In spite of this, our number one priority is to continue to improve educational programs in the most fiscally responsible manner. To that end, this Board of Education works closely with our central administrators to continually evaluate and plan for ways to improve fiscal efficiencies and opportunities to generate revenue.

Emotions have been running high with regard to many of the difficult decisions that need to be made going forward. Unfortunately, in times like these people find it easier to blame those making the decisions.

It's easier to cast blame instead of understanding the real reasons as to why we are in this predicament and the educational, legal and fiscal constraints that we must consider in planning for the future. The situation also tends to ignite the rumor mill and provides a means for opportunistic individuals/groups to perpetuate and distribute false, inaccurate and misleading information.

In last year's Board of Education election we saw an example of this with the mailing of an 11th hour piece of campaign "literature." This piece was filled with inaccurate, false and misleading information, approved by the candidates and meant to deceive the voters. This misinformation didn't just affect the incumbents records; it impugned all of the sitting board members as well as the many hardworking employees of the district, and our children. Many of the ill- founded remarks were corrected with factual information provided by central administrators at our public board meetings.

To note a few, it was falsely reported that there was a "dramatic" academic decline, when in fact the district met or exceeded the state requirements. The district did in fact decrease expenditures to our healthcare broker who also considerably improved the level of customer service provided to our employees. The district's grants writer did in fact secure more than $500,000 in grants, which is obviously more than the zero dollar amount that was stated in the 11th hour mailer. This amount far exceeds money received in grants from previous years when not using a professional. Attorney fees have declined and "millions of taxpayer dollars" have not been funneled to Toms River, as reported in the mailer.

The citizens of Brick Township have a right to expect that their elected board members will perform their duties by asking questions, seeking the truth, and holding central administrators accountable in protecting our tax dollars and providing quality educational programs for our children.

With the current distrust that many voters feel toward public officials, we find it easy to believe the negative remarks. I can only ask that you, the voter, when assaulted with purely negative information, ask questions and seek the truth before casting a vote and removing incumbents.

Let it be said that Mr. Frank Pannucci, Mr. Dan Rosa and Mr. Ed McBride are people who have done their best to help move our district forward under the bridle of an unfair state funding formula. I support their bid for re-election to the Brick Township Board of Education so that we may continue to utilize their experience in developing solutions that will support education and fiscal responsibility.

Allen Atheras Brick Township Board of Education