Mat-Ab board sends $56.8M budget to ballot
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer

The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Board of Education approved the proposed
$56.8 million 2005-06 school budget last week.

The budget's local tax levy is $43 million, which would raise taxes 17
cents per $100 assessed property value for Aberdeen residents and 8.7
cents for Matawan residents, Business Administrator Laura Venter said.

Matawan resident Diana Noble commended the board for doing a great job
putting together the budget and said that the tax increases were very
modest.

If voters approve the budget, the tax increase for an Aberdeen home
valued at $150,000 will be $103.37, and $72.15 for a home of the same
value in Matawan.

The board handed out packets of information breaking down the budget
and what is included in it, as well as an explanation of what happens
if it passes or fails.

Should the budget pass, it is fixed, and all the programs in it will
be implemented.

Some of the items the board budgeted for are an increase in the
pre-kindergarten sessions and a pre-k program in the Cliffwood Avenue
and Ravine Drive schools, more teachers at the high school and another
guidance counselor at the middle school.

School Superintendent Bruce Quinn said he was pleased with the
addition of golf and bowling as extracurricular programs at the high
school, which he said are good for students who don't participate in
the more traditional school sports, but would still like the
opportunity to connect with the school. The district is also pleased
with a new dance program, he said.

The budget also includes new teachers for many of the elementary
schools that are going through reorganization. The Lloyd Road School
has an increased amount of teachers because it will be the only school
in the district that houses fourth- and fifth-graders.

The district also plans to change the elementary language arts/reading
program in order to bring it more up-to-date.

If voters defeat the budget, it will go to the Aberdeen and Matawan
councils, which would set the new school tax rate. The school district
must then make cuts to financially meet the new rate, or file an
appeal to the state.

According to the packet of information the board gave out, the average
amount cut in the tax levy by the governing bodies usually falls
somewhere between $400,000 and $800,000, which reduces the tax rate by
2 or 3 cents.

Quinn said that on April 19, voters will be asked to vote on two
questions in addition to the budget. The first will be the approval of
$255,000 for general funds to be used for the purchase of new
computers and technology equipments for the all the schools in the
district. The second question will be the approval of $450,000 for
general funds to be used for the purchase of security and lighting
upgrades at numerous schools in the district.

Six vie for three seats on Mat-Ab school board
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer

Three seats are up for grabs in this year's Matawan-Aberdeen Regional
Board of Education election, including two representing Aberdeen and
one representing Matawan.

Aberdeen incumbents William Marinella and Jan Rubino are both hoping
to keep their seats for another three-year term, while challengers
Kenneth Aitken and Donald Franklin are both seeking to serve their
first terms. The Matawan seat is between recently deceased incumbent
Arthur Fumarola and challenger Charles Kenny.

Marinella, 48, of 500 Lloyd Road, is looking to serve his third term
on the board. He is a 16-year Aberdeen resident, and owns two music
stores. He is married with one child. He earned a bachelor of arts
degree in business management from Seton Hall University, South
Orange.

Marinella said he is running for a third term because he feels the
district is headed in the right direction, and would like to ensure
that it continues to do so. He is especially proud of all the
renovations made to the buildings through the referendum. He feels his
six years of prior experience makes him an asset to the board, and
that it can help move things further along in the right direction.

Marinella said if he is re-elected, his top goals and priorities will
be to help reach an agreement on new teacher contracts, to see all the
building projects through to completion and ensure that each school is
fully staffed with high-quality people and to see student test scores
improve.

Rubino, 47, of 824 Arbordale Drive, is a 20-year Aberdeen resident.
She is married with two kids, one who graduated from the district and
one who is currently a sophomore in the high school. She is a
preschool teacher at St. John's Methodist School, Hazlet. She earned
an associate's degree in early education from Brookdale Community
College, Lincroft. She is seeking her second consecutive three-year
term.

Rubino said she is running again because three years just isn't enough
time, and there are too many things that she would like to see
through. She said her previous three years on the board allow her to
offer an experience perspective on all subjects.

She said she finds it extremely important for the people to understand
what is in a budget, and what the tax increase it creates actually
comes to monthly. She also said that if people understood what is in
the budget and how minimal the monthly increases actually are, it
might be easier to pass one.

If re-elected, Rubino plans to focus on seeing the reorganization
through, improving the academic ability of the students by offering
new programs and classes to pupils and teachers, and to educate people
on the budget.

Challenger Donald Franklin, 37, of 107 Aberdeen Road, is a 35-year
Aberdeen resident. He is married with two kids, one in fourth grade
and one in kindergarten. He is letter carrier for the United States
Postal Service. This is Franklin's second time running for the board.
He is seeking his first term.

Franklin said he chose to run due to a "deep interest in my child's
education." He feels he can bring a different, unique perspective to
the board.

"I think I'll give a new fresh life to the board, and I'll give them
an ear to the public, which is not there now," he said.

Franklin also said that the majority of the public doesn't know what
is in a budget, and that perhaps if they had a better understanding,
they would be more likely to pass it.

If elected, Franklin plans to work hard to lower the budget, raise the
students' test scores and ensure the safety and security of the
schools.

"I believe that when you send your child off, they should be in safe
hands, and that's what I'm trying to accomplish," he said.

Kenneth Aitken, of 65 Juniper Place, previously served six years in
the U.S. Navy's submarine force. He holds a bachelor's degree in
electrical engineering from Manhattan College, New York City, and a
master's degree in telecommunications technology management from
Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken. He has

two children in the public school system.

This is Aitken's second time running for a seat on the board. He is
seeking his first term.

Aitken could not be reached for further comment regarding his campaign.

Two on ballot for Matawan

The election process for the open Matawan seat uniquely differs this
election season. Running for the seat are Charles Kenny and Arthur
Fumarola, who passed away last week.

Fumarola's passing occurred after the deadline to have his name taken
off the ballot, ensuring his name remain in the running unless removed
by a court order.

Fumarola's wife, Marge, said that the family will take no action to
have her husband's name removed from the ballot, but will not actively
run his campaign. The family hopes, however, that out of respect for
his name, people will still get out and vote.

If Fumarola does win the election, his seat will be considered vacant,
and the board will appoint someone to it after accepting applications
and interviewing Matawan residents. The appointment will hold the seat
for one year, and will then have to run for election next year in
order to serve the remaining two years.

In an article in last week's edition, Board president Cathy Zavorskas
made statements explaining the process of how the election would work,
but feels that these statements as seen in print have implied that she
was suggesting residents vote against Kenny. Zavorskas said that her
statement simply meant that voters should know and understand that
they still have a choice in who to vote for because there will be two
names on the ballot, and they can vote for whomever they wish.

Charles [Chuck] Kenny, 40, of 5 Sarah Court, is married with two
children, one who is in the public school system, and one getting
ready to enter in September. Kenny is a lawyer with the law firm
Lopiano and Kenny, Hoboken. He earned his law degree from Seton Hall
University, South Orange. This is Kenny's first time running for the
board.

Kenny said he is running because he has been following the business of
the board and has viewed the need for professionalism. He said that he
could bring a unique perspective to the board through his experience
as a trial lawyer.

If elected, Kenny plans to work hard to maintain the fiscal
responsibility of the board, make sure that tax dollars are put to the
best possible place, to ensure the safety and success of the children.

Matawan and Aberdeen residents can vote for the candidate of their
choice, as well as the budget on April 19.

From the independent.

School board V.P. Fumarola dies

Name will remain

on ballot for April's

Mat-Ab school election

BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG

Staff Writer

Friends, family and co-workers have described Arthur Fumarola as an
opinionated, outspoken man of integrity, a man who will surely be missed
by many.

Fumarola, the vice president of the Matawan-Aberdeen Board of Education,
passed away at his Matawan home on Thursday. He was 74 years old.

"Everybody knows the man of integrity he was," Fumarola's wife of 49
years, Margaret, said. "He's going to be missed, mostly by his family,
but by his community and the school board as well."

Fumarola had previously beaten lung cancer, but it appears that the
chemotherapy was too much for his weakened body and triggered a fatal
heart attack.

Fumarola was serving his fourth nonconsecutive term on the board and was
running for his fifth term this year, Superintendent Bruce Quinn said.

Fumarola's name is currently on the ballot to run for election, board
President Cathy Zavorskas said. It is past the deadline to have his name
removed, and the only way to do so is through a court order, she said.

Rather than go to court to have the name removed from the ballot, his
family is going to honor him by running his campaign, she said.

Zavorskas said it's important for people to understand that just because
he passed, his seat shouldn't automatically go to the opposition, she
said.

If Fumarola does win the election, his seat will be considered vacant,
and the board will accept applications for the position. After an
application and interviewing process, the board would vote to appoint
someone to the seat. That person would remain on the board for one year,
but have to run for election next year in order to finish out the
remaining two years of the term, she said.

Fumarola was described by many as the type of man who couldn't be stopped
once his mind was made up, and despite his recent death, his family plans
on working hard to ensure his legacy lives on by continuing to run his
campaign.

"Mr. Fumarola was a very good board member. He cared deeply about the
school district," Quinn said.

It was important to him to give every single child an equal opportunity
at an excellent education, Quinn said.

"Art truly understood the meaning of leadership," Zavorskas said.

He never used his position to gain power, she said, but "was instead a
person that wanted to empower people."

Zavorskas praised Fumarola for understanding that he wasn't the person
that made decisions, but was one of the people involved in making a
decision, and was part of a system designed to give children the best
education possible.

Quinn respected Fumarola's unique perspective, especially on bringing
kids into the school system. Quinn said that Fumarola once told him that
he didn't believe in doing things to stop new kids from coming into the
district, but instead believed in embracing new families and offering
them the chance for a free education.

"He really had a respect for every man," Quinn said. "He just wanted to
see all kids succeed and display their talents."

In addition to the Board of Education, Fumarola also served two past
terms on the Matawan Borough Council. He was also the fire commissioner
of Matawan, the past president/treasurer of Matawan Falcons Pop Warner
Football, past commissioner/manager of St. Joseph's Little League and a
past basketball referee for St. Joseph's. He is also a member of the
Matawan Hall of Fame. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War.

Fumarola was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and is a 37-year resident of
Matawan. He graduated from New York University and worked as an
accountant/manager with International Ladies Garment Workers in Union,
N.Y., for 44 years, before retiring in 1993.

Fumarola is survived by his wife, Margaret Mary Altilio of Matawan; and
his three sons and two daughter-in-laws, Adam Fumarola of San Francisco,
Calif., Michael and Kellie Fumarola of Neptune City, and James and Andrea
Fumarola of Matawan. Also surviving are his daughter and son-in-law,
Maria and Troy Gallo of Holmdel. His brother, Michael Fumarola of the
Bronx, N.Y., and his sister, Anna Fumarola of Old Bridge, are also
surviving, as well as six grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his sister, Frances Templeton, in 2002.

Funeral services were held on Monday at the Day Funeral Home, Keyport.
His cremation was private.

School board V.P. Fumarola dies

Name will remain

on ballot for April’s

Mat-Ab school election

BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG

Staff Writer

Friends, family and co-workers have described Arthur Fumarola as an opinionated, outspoken man of integrity, a man who will surely be missed by many.

Fumarola, the vice president of the Matawan-Aberdeen Board of Education, passed away at his Matawan home on Thursday. He was 74 years old.

“Everybody knows the man of integrity he was,” Fumarola’s wife of 49 years, Margaret, said. “He’s going to be missed, mostly by his family, but by his community and the school board as well.”

Fumarola had previously beaten lung cancer, but it appears that the chemotherapy was too much for his weakened body and triggered a fatal heart attack.

Fumarola was serving his fourth nonconsecutive term on the board and was running for his fifth term this year, Superintendent Bruce Quinn said.

Fumarola’s name is currently on the ballot to run for election, board President Cathy Zavorskas said. It is past the deadline to have his name removed, and the only way to do so is through a court order, she said.

Rather than go to court to have the name removed from the ballot, his family is going to honor him by running his campaign, she said.

Zavorskas said it’s important for people to understand that just because he passed, his seat shouldn’t automatically go to the opposition, she said.

If Fumarola does win the election, his seat will be considered vacant, and the board will accept applications for the position. After an application and interviewing process, the board would vote to appoint someone to the seat. That person would remain on the board for one year, but have to run for election next year in order to finish out the remaining two years of the term, she said.

Fumarola was described by many as the type of man who couldn’t be stopped once his mind was made up, and despite his recent death, his family plans on working hard to ensure his legacy lives on by continuing to run his campaign.

“Mr. Fumarola was a very good board member. He cared deeply about the school district,” Quinn said.

It was important to him to give every single child an equal opportunity at an excellent education, Quinn said.

“Art truly understood the meaning of leadership,” Zavorskas said.

He never used his position to gain power, she said, but “was instead a person that wanted to empower people.”

Zavorskas praised Fumarola for understanding that he wasn’t the person that made decisions, but was one of the people involved in making a decision, and was part of a system designed to give children the best education possible.

Quinn respected Fumarola’s unique perspective, especially on bringing kids into the school system. Quinn said that Fumarola once told him that he didn’t believe in doing things to stop new kids from coming into the district, but instead believed in embracing new families and offering them the chance for a free education.

“He really had a respect for every man,” Quinn said. “He just wanted to see all kids succeed and display their talents.”

In addition to the Board of Education, Fumarola also served two past terms on the Matawan Borough Council. He was also the fire commissioner of Matawan, the past president/treasurer of Matawan Falcons Pop Warner Football, past commissioner/manager of St. Joseph’s Little League and a past basketball referee for St. Joseph’s. He is also a member of the Matawan Hall of Fame. He served in the Air Force during the Korean War.

Fumarola was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and is a 37-year resident of Matawan. He graduated from New York University and worked as an accountant/manager with International Ladies Garment Workers in Union, N.Y., for 44 years, before retiring in 1993.

Fumarola is survived by his wife, Margaret Mary Altilio of Matawan; and his three sons and two daughter-in-laws, Adam Fumarola of San Francisco, Calif., Michael and Kellie Fumarola of Neptune City, and James and Andrea Fumarola of Matawan. Also surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Maria and Troy Gallo of Holmdel. His brother, Michael Fumarola of the Bronx, N.Y., and his sister, Anna Fumarola of Old Bridge, are also surviving, as well as six grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his sister, Frances Templeton, in 2002.

Funeral services were held on Monday at the Day Funeral Home, Keyport. His cremation was private.

Matawan-Aberdeen Regional school district election facts, candidates
Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/20/05
MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

THE STAKES: Three three-year terms (two in Aberdeen, one in Matawan). Residents will vote on a $56.9 million budget that will be funded through $43,085,980 in local property taxes, and if passed, the budget would increase the school's tax rate by about 17 cents to $3.39 per $100 of assessed of property value in Aberdeen, and by 8.7 cents to $3.11 in Matawan. For the owner of an Aberdeen home assessed at $140,000, this would represent a calendar-year increase of roughly $238. The owner of a Matawan home assessed at the same price would pay about $122 more in school taxes.

BALLOT QUESTIONS/REFERENDUMS: none

ELECTION DATE: April 19

THE CANDIDATES:


NAME: Ken Aitken

ADDRESS: 65 Juniper Place, Aberdeen

AGE: 43

OCCUPATION: Network architect, AT&T

EDUCATION: Master's degree in technology management, Stevens Institute of Technology

EXPERIENCE: Frequent attendee at board meetings; has provided suggestions to school district on technology and budget items; served six years in U.S. Navy, submarine force; quartermaster, VFW Post No. 4745 in Cliffwood Beach

PERSONAL: Married, two children

NAME: Donald Franklin

ADDRESS: 107 Aberdeen Road, Aberdeen

AGE: 37

OCCUPATION: Letter carrier, United States Postal Service

EDUCATION: One year of college

EXPERIENCE: Member, Cross of Glory Lutheran Church council

PERSONAL: Married, two children

NAME: Charles Kenny

ADDRESS: 5 Sarah Court, Matawan

AGE: 40

OCCUPATION: Attorney specializing in litigation

EDUCATION: Law degree, J.D., Seton Hall University

EXPERIENCE: Member, board of directors for Charity Friends Health Connection; special ethics master, appointed by New Jersey Supreme Court; former chairperson, Office of Attorney Ethics District Ethics Committee; trustee, Hudson County Bar Association; co-founder, Christine's Crusaders, a fund-raising team for the Juvenile Diabetes Association

PERSONAL: Married, two children

NAME: Bill Marinella*

ADDRESS: 500 Lloyd Road, Aberdeen

AGE: 48

OCCUPATION: Owner of two area music stores

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, Seton Hall University

EXPERIENCE: Member, board of education, six years; involved with negotiations and finance committees

PERSONAL: Married, one child

NAME: Jan Rubino*

ADDRESS: 824 Arbordale Drive, Aberdeen (Cliffwood Beach section)

AGE: 47

OCCUPATION: Preschool teacher, St. John's Nursery School in Hazlet

EDUCATION: Associate's degree in early education

EXPERIENCE: Member, board of education, three years; former PTO President, Cliffwood Elementary School; frequent attendee at board meetings, 10 years; member, Organization for Parent Taxpayers; member, Matawan Avenue Middle School block-scheduling committee; member of policy, program and facilities committees; former chairperson, community relations committee; chairperson, personnel committee; member, Matawan Regional High School Middle States Evaluation committee

PERSONAL: Married, two children

NOTE: * denotes incumbent
Arthur Fumarola, who served nearly four terms on the board of education, also will be listed on the ballot, but is deceased. He died Thursday at age 74.

Matawan-Aberdeen candidates seek to control school spending
Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/20/05
By JUSTIN VELLUCCI
KEYPORT BUREAU


Controlling school spending and maintaining academic programs top the list of concerns cited by five residents seeking three three-year terms on the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Board of Education.

Incumbents Bill Marinella and Jan Rubino will run next month against challengers Ken Aitken and Donald Franklin for two Aberdeen seats, while Charles Kenny will run unopposed for a seat representing Matawan on the board.

The name of longtime board member Arthur Fumarola, who died Thursday after having filed a bid for re-election, still will appear on the April 19 ballot, Superintendent Bruce Quinn said.

If Fumarola wins, the Board of Education would appoint someone to his seat for one year, after which an election would be held to determine who serves the remainder of his three-year term, Quinn said.

By the numbers

In addition to voting on the open seats, Matawan and Aberdeen voters will be asked to approve a $56.9 million budget, which is 6 percent larger than this year's budget and includes $52,792,126 in general operating funds. It will be funded through $43,085,980 in local property taxes, Business Administrator and Board Secretary Laura Venter said recently.

If passed, the budget would increase the school tax rate by about 17 cents to $3.39 per $100 of assessed of property value in Aberdeen, and by 8.7 cents to $3.11 in Matawan, Venter said.

For the owner of an Aberdeen home assessed at $140,000, this would represent a calendar-year increase of roughly $238. The owner of a Matawan home assessed at the same price would pay about $122 more in school taxes.

The incumbents

As the district negotiates teacher contracts and tackles the ramifications of new state budget cap laws, Marinella and Rubino stressed they provide something invaluable to the board — experience.

"We've been into (negotiations) for eight months now. To bring someone new into that, you'd have to bring them up to speed," said Marinella, 48, who said contract talks and the budget cap law known as S-1701 are the biggest issues facing the regional district.

"I'm right in the middle of both of those things right now," he added.

Rubino said she plans to build on her board experience by focusing even more on curriculum and academics.

"I think the one thing that we need to do is to continue to improve the academics in all areas by hiring highly skilled teachers (and) by giving them opportunities for workshops to keep them current," said Rubino, a 47-year-old preschool teacher.

If elected to a second term, Rubino hopes to continue pushing for reform of how the state funds non-Abbott school districts. She said she would also remain attentive to how money is spent locally.

"I want to continue to keep on top of how our money is being spent, that the money is being spent wisely and the correct way," she said.

The challengers

The three men mounting challenges also talked about the importance of sound financial planning but stressed the district can always do more to control the impact its budget has on Matawan and Aberdeen residents.

"The first issue I have . . . is getting control of the budget, which to me has increased substantially in the last three to four years," said Aitken, 43, who made his first bid for a board seat last year.

Aitken said he wants to see academic growth keep pace or exceed the growth of the district's budget. He also wants to see the district follow through on reorganization plans, which he initially opposed.

"I'm not against the reorganization now — it's happened," Aitken said. "But I want to make sure that the programs that were supposed to be put in place are actually put in place."

Though Aitken, Franklin and Kenny have all been involved with the community group Concerned Parents of Matawan and Aberdeen, they will not campaign as a group. Only Aitken and Franklin will run together, they said.

Franklin feels school security is important but also wants to ensure the Board of Education is always mindful of how school budgets impact people. Tax rate increases of near 20 cents per $100 of assessed property value are too high, he said.

"Whether you're 25 years old, just getting married, or you're 78 years old, that's a lot of money every year," said Franklin, 37, who also made an unsuccessful bid last year for a board seat. "Something's got to be done better — some way, somehow — to control this budget. It's just ridiculous."

Kenny is less pointed when talking about the school budgets. While he cites financial planning as a big issue, the 40-year-old lawyer said he's just anxious to get involved and use his professional experience in order to better the district.

"That's why I want to be a part of the process, so I can see how the money is spent, where and when it is being spent and to assure that it's being spent in the most efficient manner," Kenny said. "This is the first time that I've run for public office and I'm very excited about the prospect of giving back to the community."

Kenny said his campaign for the board will not change now that he is running unopposed.

"I'm saddened to hear of the loss of Mr. Fumarola. He was a dedicated servant to Matawan and Aberdeen for many years," he said. "(But) it's my intention to continue with my campaign and the goals of my campaign remain the same."

Justin Vellucci: (732) 888-2617 or jvellucci@app.com

Superintendent inks contract extension
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer

ABERDEEN — The superintendent of schools will be sticking around for quite a while.

Bruce Quinn recently signed a new contract, making him the superintendent until June 30, 2009.

“I’m thrilled to be here, helping to improve the lives of my neighbors’ children,” Quinn said.

He said he believes the district has been going in the right direction, and he plans to continue in that direction.

“We’re on the right track; we just need to continue on it,” he said.

Quinn said there is still a lot to be done within the district, and that he plans to work on building projects and putting the right people in the right places. Quinn also said that the district is always trying to improve the faculty, staff and curriculum.

Quinn’s new contract became effective Feb. 14.

He has been the superintendent of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District since August 2002.

His previous contract was set to expire on June 30, 2006. State law requires that superintendents be told at least one year before their contract expires whether or not it will be renewed.

Quinn said he asked the district to let him know a little bit before the one-year mark because he was being pursued for other positions, which he would have looked into if his contract was not renewed.

“My preference was to stay here,” he said. “I’m thrilled.”

Quinn’s salary will remain $134,626 for the first year, and will increase a minimum of 3 percent each year after. Quinn also gains four additional vacation days, he said.

In other district news:

• Teacher contracts are still under negotiation. The teachers association and the board will have another meeting with the appointed mediator on March 7.

• The board is getting ready to adopt a temporary budget, Quinn said. District officials are waiting to find out how much state grant they will receive, and will then hold a meeting to adopt the temporary budget. The state grant will be announced on March 3, and the district will have tentative budget numbers ready for submission by the March 8 deadline, Quinn said.