Budget, board seats on the line on April 15 Two special questions also on the ballot BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent Voters here will decide on the fate of the school district's $141 million budget, two special questions, and three Brick Township Board of Education seats next week. The district's $141,104,370 budget for the 2008-09 school year calls for the closing and sale of the Laurelton School on Route 88, and the relocation of its students to the Educational Enrichment Center (EEC) on Hendrickson Avenue. If approved, the school tax rate will rise by 11.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, costing the average taxpayer an additional $148.63 this year. The EEC students will be moved to the Primary Learning Center (PLC), Chambers Bridge Road, which has also been proposed as the site for a possible forprofit pre-school program. Kindergarten students who would have attended the PLC in September, will now attend classes in their home schools. While the budget cuts 22 staff positions, it also includes enhancements to the high school curriculum, the replacement of textbooks and improvement to the district's technology. Two special ballot questions, which require 60 percent of the vote to pass, deal with school security and technology. The first question seeks to raise an additional $150,000 annually for a security supervisor and secretary. The second question asks voters for a one-time only charge of $478,500 to purchase technology upgrades, in the form of LCD projectors and laptop carts. Six candidates are vying for three Board of Education seats - two three-year terms and one, one-year unexpired term. Incumbents Frank Pannucci and Daniel Rosa will face off against newcomersMichael Pifko and Vicky Leone for the three-year terms. EdwardMcBride, who was appointed to the Board of Education in January, is running against Kim Terebush for the one-year term. The one-year term fills the unexpired time left on Brian DeLuca's term. DeLuca resigned last year after he won a Township Council seat. Eighteen-year board member Frank Pannucci said he's seeking a seventh term because there's still a lot of things yet to do. "We need to pick a permanent superintendent," he said. "We need to bring in revenue without depending on the state for funding. And we need to continue to pursue alternative energy sources like solar panels and windmills." Pannucci said that as a retired teacher, he's the last person who wants to see schools close "I spent 35 years in the classroom," he said. "I don't want to close any school. But times are different now. There are empty classrooms all over the district. We have to be more efficient and tighten our belts. The bottomline is the programs are still intact." Pannucci said that his greatest asset to the board is his experience. "The other side can say, 'He's been there too long,' " said Pannucci, "but the ideas are fresh every year. Every now and then, people need a history lesson on why, when and the reasons why things were done. I'll be there till they throw me out." Daniel Rosa, an Irvington firefighter, is seeking his second term on the Board of Education. "I don't feel I'm done yet," said Rosa. "I am very excited about the Brick Township Education Foundation (BTEF) and proud of the accomplishments we've had over the last few years." That includes the adjustment to the salary step guide that has helped retain teachers; the hiring of a $55,000 grant writerwho has brought in $750,000 to date; improvements to the district's technology and security; and an increased number of defibrillators in the schools, he said. "In the future, I want to work closely with the grant writer to bring in more money and I hope the BTEF can support the district and take some of the burden off of the taxpayers," said Rosa. "I don't want to close anymore schools." In addition to generating grants, the district also needs to save money in the form of continued shared services with the township and other municipalities. Rosa said that a proposed "super garage," which will house the school district's and township's vehicles under one roof, will cut costs for both entities.Arecent bussing agreementwith Point Pleasantwill also generate income for the district. NewcomerMichael Pifko, an attorney, said that the current school board lacks a proactive approach to the district's future. "The failure to find a permanent superintendent and the fact that we're just getting around to starting an education foundation are two examples of how this board isn't specifically planning for the future," Pifko said. By hiring a permanent superintendent, the district would save a considerable amount ofmoney fromthe combined $1,100 per day it currently pays interim SuperintendentMelindoA. Persi and his special assistant, Dr.Anthony Novembre, Pifko said. Pifko also questioned why the district is creating new positions, while closing schools at the same time. "I'm not in favor of taking away from public education to raise cash through a private preschool," said Pifko, who said he is running to stop the closing of the PLC as an early education center. By sending kindergarten students back to their home schools, the children will lose a half hour in their class time, from three hours a day at the PLC to two-and-a-half in their neighborhood schools, Pifko said. "We are doing a disservice to these children," Pifko said. "We should be moving forward to a full day kindergarten rather than moving backwards." Pifko said he would have taken a larger amount of money out of the district's surplus to keep the PLC in operation for kindergartners and would have sold the Laurelton School immediately to replenish the district's reserves. "We need a new majority on this board that looks for ways to save money that doesn't involve closing schools," Pifko said. "Our taxes are going up and we're closing schools. That does not equate." Army veteran and homemaker Vicky Leone said that she thinks that there are other ways the district could have saved money and, in turn, saved the PLC. "I've looked at the line items on the budget and by changing the bus routes we could save $1 million which would keep the PLC open," Leone said. Leone also questioned why the district hasn't followed through on a "green initiative" which would save on electric costs and generate revenue. "The state reimburses for 60 percent of the cost to install solar panels, but that is going away on Sept. 1," said Leone, who has solar panels on her house and drives a hybrid car. "If we went green right now, we could make money. It's good business sense, and we need to teach our community to think about the future." Leone said she would like to focus on the two district schools- Drum Point Elementary School and Veterans Memorial Middle School - that did not meet No Child Left Behind requirements. And Leone said she said she would like to see politics not be a part of the next Board of Education. "It sounds naive, but it shouldn't be about politics. It's kids first and then the taxpayers," Leone said. Edward McBride said that he's been faced with tough decisions in his first three months on the board, but the job is what he expected it to be. "We need to squeeze every dollar so that every child gets the best education possible," McBride said. McBride said next year he would like to use his experience as a retired police officer to work with the district's new security supervisor. "It's very critical that we organize our emergency response and disaster preparedness plans," McBride said. He would also like to focus on alternative funding and grants and energy credits. "This job takes a lot of time and I'm willing to put in the time and make the tough decisions that may not always be popular," McBride said. Kim Terebush, a broker and sales associate at Coldwell Banker Riviera Realty in Point Pleasant, said that the closing of the PLC is "very disturbing." "I've done my homework," said Terebush. "I've sat down and read through the budget and there is definitely money that can be found to keep the PLC open. The current Board of Education should be doing their homework." Terebush also questioned why the district hasn't hired a permanent superintendent and why the district employs attorneys and accountants from other municipalities, namely Toms River. "We have a surplus of very accredited professionals in our community with ties to our town. They shop in our stores. Their children attend our schools," Terebush said. "We have people in these positions, including the superintendent, who don't have a vested interest in our community. We need to run and control our own community." If elected, Terebush said that she would bring a very fresh point of view and an inquisitive mind to the board. "I am unmarried, and I don't have any children, and I am concerned about what is going on here. What does that tell you?" she said. The polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 15.