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
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
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